dirrtyinc.com

Following on the EP that I had posted on, here’s the review of Little Boots’ debut album, “Hands“. Released on 8th June, the album reached number five on the UK album chart. Hands primarily features songs about love, relationships and heartbreak, and has influence from a variety of music styles such as disco, 80s pop, and eurodance.

First Impression
I first got to know about her cause of “Stuck on Repeat“, her first promo single on her EP back in 2008. Quite an interesting sound, I must say. Listening to the album, it does strike a cord with me as how she is able to link the electro-pop vibe, lyrics and the concept of love that revolves in this album. I’m able to understand how she’s able to come out tops in BBC Sound of 2009 poll. =)

Standout tracks

• New in Town – Lead single and opening track. It was inspired by the “seedy side of life” in Los Angeles and the strange individuals Little Boots met while recording “Hands“. Sounds like what Santigold would produce. Didn’t like it at first, but it grows on me. =)
• Earthquake - Singing about struggles within a relationship, it’s a dance track though. The chorus is very pop-ish. One of my fave tracks in this album. Could be a single.
• Stuck on Repeat – It describes a romantic infatuation using music as a metaphor, which is rather unique. The Fake Blood remix on the Arecibo EP really gets this song to stuck on repeat in my head.
• Remedy - This song feels very Lady Gaga as it’s produced by RedOne. I don’t think it’s bad in this case. Chorus is quite epic. Dancing is definitely one of my remedy. The song is about getting over an ex. One of my fave songs too.
• Meddle - With the Timbaland-like sounding beats, love the treament being done to this song. Catchy and addictive.
• Mathematics - Words can’t express my love for this song. As this song suggest, math is being use as a metaphor for love. Brillant lyrics, love the electro-ish breakdown. And it’s true that “Nothing can divide a heart plus a heart”.
• Hearts Collide – This song reminds me of “Stars” and “No More Rain“, both by Kylie. Quite a glossy mid-tempo.

Final Verdict
Well, most of the tracks in this album are rather uptempo, saving for a couple of tracks at the end of the album. Notably is “Hands“, which is a hidden track at the end of the last song. It can only be found on the physical CD version though. A stripped down piano affair, the song describes of a broken-hearted woman who mends her heart with glue and sticky tape at the end. There’s a story behind this song, which is kinda heart-wrenching.

Overall, this album is a magnificent pop record that satisfies the heart (on the album lyrical concept) and the feet (tunes to dance to). An album worth listening to.

This album scored 4 stars.
rickified: