La Roux - Tropical Chancer

La Roux's second album "Trouble In Paradise" is set to be released on 21 July. The most interesting aspect of this for me is that Elly Jackson and her long-term songwriting partner Ben Langmaid split during the creation of this album. His influence is still sprinkled over the album, though this may explain why it took 5 years between album number 1 and 2. It is always interesting to note a difference between a group when a pivotal member leaves. If you have ever heard the difference between NWA's "Straight Outta Compton" and "Efilzaggin" it is quite clear that Ice Cube's departure between the albums removed the social content of the group's lyrics, and what you were left with was misogynistic, nihilistic gangsta rap. Amazingly produced however! So, of the songs I have heard on the new album my favourite has got to be "Tropical Chancer". The first thing I noticed (well after the fact it sounds a bit like a slower tempo, tropical version of "Get Lucky") was that Elly Jackson is singing in a lower register than she was for most of the debut album. I loved her falsetto, but here her voice sounds beautifully relaxed, flowing well with the laid-back funky groove. There is still that 80's sensibility to the work, but not in the synth-pop style featured on the last album. The lyrics seem to be about a pretty dodgy geezer; In a way it reminds me of the character featured on Arctic Monkeys "Brianstorm","He'll trade your loving for the things he's never seen/The places he has never been", being a lyric sample. This track is instantly catchy and effortlessly easy. It catches the heatwave perfectly. As I mentioned earlier the direction of La Roux's second album will be interesting, but she has the voice and the vibe and that is what garnered her attention in the first place.