New offerings from Nicola Roberts, You Me At Six, Dappy and Emmy the Great

Nicola Roberts - Lucky Day

Admin out the way. She’s the ginger one from Girls Aloud, boys that’s the fifth member, and girls she’s the quirky one. And now it would seem she’s trying her hand at the popstar thing, all on her own; doing a Cheryl, or a Nadine, or a Sarah, or a...the other one.
“Lucky Day” is the second single from her debut album which continues where first single “Beat Of My Drum” left off, settling in somewhere between 80’s girl pop and modern dance groups, like Justice in leg warmers, or Cyndi Lauper with an iPad.
In continuing to stand on her own a) away from her Girls, and b) without any middle-8 rapping hunk, “Lucky Day” marks a magnificent moment for Nicola, and more importantly for British female pop. It’s all sizzling, snarling attitude and dainty, bratty innocence.
But most of all its proof that cool girls will always win in the end, and no matter how many footballers you bonk, or showers you model under, there’s nothing really like a Kylie-esque "Oohh-Ayyy"

[4/5]

Jack Murray

You Me At Six - Loverboy

This latest release from British band You Me at Six sees them grow into a more clean-cut, consistent and fuller sound than anything we’ve previously heard from the Surrey boys.
With a punchy bass track and a catchy lilt to the verses that leads into an upbeat chorus, “Loverboy” is perfectly moulded for that strut down the street in the last of the summer sun; a brilliant transitional tune.
Whilst the lyrics lack depth, if it’s a care-free track you’re after with some great rhymes - “This is your night with arms wide open, I’m the option you shouldn’t have chosen” - get listening!
Although “Loverboy” isn’t quite as intense as previous single “Stay with Me”, you must be warned: listening before 11am should definitely be taken with caution, especially if you’re suffering from the night before.

[3/5]

Katie Walker

Dappy - No Regrets

Dappy is probably best known for being the lop-sided-hat wearing tiny jester from mediocre hip-pop group N-Dubz. "No Regrets", his debut solo effort, is an attempt to change all that.
The song is somber in tone as Dappy attempts to be taken seriously.  This is the main problem with the track. There is a confusing mix of angst (“when I look in the mirror I don’t even recognise myself”) and inane jokes as he tries to be both profound and witty.
The lyrics are as infectious as they are ridiculous and the tune is certainly catchy, complete with gospel chorus, (frankly unnecessary) piano solo and an abrupt key change to really crank up the emotion. My eyes may instinctively roll as I listen to the track but I can’t pretend I haven’t had it on repeat for the past hour.

[4/5]

Helen Stride

Emmy the Great - Paper Forest

It’s a sad fact that heartbreak can make music truly affecting, and for Emma-Lee Moss (aka Emmy the Great) this was precisely the case. In between debut album First Love and Virtue, Moss was abandoned by her fiancé. The ensuing pain helped fuel the greater depth of expression heard on Virtue. This sense of the bittersweet is recognisable in the album’s new release “Paper Forest (In The Afterglow of Rapture)”, whose heart-wrenching chorus openly rejoices in having loved and lost, rather than never at all.
“Paper Forest” demonstrates  this shift away from the witty, pretty melodies, to a more melancholic sound, and the gravity is heightened by the painfully intimate scope of her lyrics. Emmy herself may have suffered a knockback but in her music she seems one step closer to greatness.

[4/5]

Meg Pruce