Sophie Ellis-Bextor releases her eighth studio album, Perimenopop, via Casablanca Records. Ellis-Bextor has teamed up with collaborators old and new, including long-time studio confidantes such as Biff Stannard [Kylie Minogue, JADE], Hannah Robinson [Annie, Ladyhawke], and Ed Harcourt, as well as new musical partners like Nile Rodgers, Sigrid, and MNEK. New single 'Stay On Me' is a disco-propelled pop anthem about a blissful long-term romance...

Perimenopop sees Sophie Ellis-Bextor explode back onto the scene following 2023's Hana. This new offering delivers 12 songs (40 min, 31 sec) each of which could be a single in its own right. The current single to be released from the album, 'Stay On Me', was co-written with Selena Gomez, Julia Michaels, Kid Harpoon [Harry Styles, Miley Cyrus], and Caroline Ailin [Charli XCX, Dua Lipa].

​​Talking about the single, Ellis-Bextor says: "'Stay On Me' is a celebration of being with your person and knowing - trusting - they only have eyes for you. It’s romantic and has a little nonchalant bop to it. I always picture a '60s dreamscape scene when I sing it. It brings out the flirtatious and soft focus feels, with a heart full of joy and desire."

Featuring previously released tracks 'Freedom Of The Night,' 'Relentless Love,' 'Vertigo,' 'Taste,' and 'Dolce Vita,' Perimenopop is a jubilant, bold, and confident album and cements her as the reigning queen of pop.

I don't think it's too bold or controversial to compare her to past giants of the genre, like Madonna and Kylie Minogue. In fact you can almost hear Kylie or Madonna singing many of the singles here (most notably 'Relentless Love', 'Glamorous' and 'Freedom of the Night').

Ellis-Bextor's talent and career has aged as well as her youthful looks. This is an important, joyous release and one of her many highlights.

The album has a timeless quality that should ensure fans will enjoy it for decades to come. It's instantly accessible and I found that almost all songs were infectious the first time I listened to them, with subsequent listens just confirming my opinion that this was a pretty flawless album.

9

Darren Rea