We Are The Pipettes - The Pipettes

It's no secret that I'm in love with Rose/Rosay (however they're spelling it this week - although really, spelling it like Rosay brings chilling reminders of Kevin and Sally Webster in Coronation Street - "Rosay your tea's ready - chips and beans"...yes quite....) but it's also no secret that I in no way allow any bias to affect my music reviews.

So believe me, when I tell you that this is one of the finest pop records you'll hear this year, I really do mean it. From start to finish this is an utter delight.

Ironically it opens with the one track that does deviate from the 60's girl harmonies template, We Are The Pipettes, which brings to mind the B-52's (back when they were good) and works well as a clarion call to arms for the rest of the album.

None of the songs outstay their welcome (indeed the 14 tracks clock in at around 35 minutes in total) but it's very hard to pick out a duff one.

Yes the singles Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me and Pull Shapes are perhaps the outright pick of the bunch, but there is much more to savour on this catchy collection. ABC and It Hurts To See You Dance So Well are my particular favourites, but like I said, I couldn't really single any particular song out as being awful.

Of course some critics have labelled them as one trick ponies (and yes, I have made passing mention to that myself) but that kind of misses the point. No-one accused Oasis of being one-trick ponies after Definately Maybe (although some might well think that now ;-D); they concentrated on what a great record it is. Similarly at this particular moment does it really matter what The Pipettes might follow this up with? Not really, all that counts at this moment in time is that this album is an infectious belter.

Something that could well have slipped into ill-advised pastiche has actually turned out to be one of the finds of the year. Crafted with serious intentions, but with a knowing wink, the album could well turn out to be the soundtrack of the summer.

And on this day when the Mercury nominations were announced, it's regretable that this wasn't on the shortlist. Still, what chance does a pop album by three women have hey?