Luciana - New Single & Tour!

2010 really is THE year of Luciana. The dance icon scored a double platinum top 3 smash in Australia with "I Like That", co-wrote the best song on Kylie's new album, scored an American record deal with Interscope and got to hang out with me. Could it get any better?! The answer, it seems, is yes. Luciana's recent collaboration with UK rapper Lethal Bizzle has been picked up for an Australian release by Ministry of Sound and was officially released to TV and radio today. "Go Go Go" is already sitting at #24 on the club chart with minimal promotion and looks set to be the diva's next antipodean smash. As much as I love "Skin I'm In", I think this is a much wiser choice for Australia and should go down like a cheap pro on radio. It ticks all the boxes - catering to urban, pop and dance fans. And name checks Beyoncé, so it's clearly amazing. The video (below) is a complete trip and probably brings on epilepsy if you watch it too many times but I love it and can't wait to see it on Channel V. My only gripe is with the scary cover (above) but you can't have everything. In other exciting news, Luciana is returning to Sydney on the 21st of August to headline the Endless Summer music festival. Later that day, she's flying up to Brisbane for a gig at Family nightclub. Decisions, decisions. Fuck it. I'll do both!

Kaci's Latest Trash Anthem - Body Shots

Kaci Battaglia is probably best known to pop fans as the pure as snow 13 year old who desperately tried to cut Britney's grass back in 2001 with her sugary sweet UK top 20 hit "Paradise" and top 10 cover of the Partridge Family classic "I Think I Love You". After several years in the wilderness, Kaci returned last year with a sexy new image and club smash called "Crazy Possessive" - which shamelessly ripped off "Womanizer" but still managed to sound 100 times better. That amazing anthem didn't quite catch on but the former child star isn't going anywhere. Kaci's latest stunning triumph is a call to arms for alcoholics and features a desperate cameo by Ludacris. Oh and it still sounds like something Britney's A&R received, ridiculed and rejected. Basically, "Body Shots" is a slice of heaven! The track might be low brow but it's undeniably catchy and I can easily imagine it becoming the soundtrack of choice for bad girls everywhere. I even think the Ludacris rap works. And let's face it - if Justin Bieber can get away with pulling this shit then why can't a stone cold fox like Kaci? As usual with flop divas of yesteryear, the song is being road tested in clubs before being pushed to radio and the remix package is impressive. My favourite is the WAWA mix (below) but Dave Audé's is a close second. Bring on the sure to be scandalous video!

Nikka Costa's Pop Makeover

I mentioned in an earlier post that one of the (musical) highlights of my recent European trip was snaring a copy of Nikka Costa's latest single in Germany. That might sound incredibly lame to... just about everyone but Nikka and I have history. You see, the adopted Australian was one of my high school obsessions. Which is fucking weird given her rock/soul/funk sound. "Butterfly Rocket" screams the 90s to me more than bucket bongs and Buffy. Our passionate affair continued well into the next decade with her amazing breakthrough album "Everybody's Got Their Something" but we drifted apart as the years passed and I'm ashamed to say that I never got around to buying her last independently released opus "Pebble To A Pearl" (something I'll have to rectify ASAP).

That takes me back to Germany where Nikka has a new album slated for release on the 3rd of September. And if the lead single is any indication, it's set to be stunning return to form. "Ching Ching Ching" is an interesting change of pace for the former rock chick. The soulful sound of her previous albums has been replaced by upbeat guitar pop. Naturally, the faithful are up in arms - accusing the diva of "selling out" - but I love it. And so do the Germans, who recently made it Nikka's first chart hit in over a decade. Take that, whingers! "Ching Ching Ching" demands a couple of listens but stick with it. The lyrics are typically wry and the chorus should come with a 'catchy as fuck' warning. This would be my favourite comeback of 2010 if Jennifer Rush hadn't escaped from her crypt to record the song of the year. Anyway, make sure you watch the classy video. Nikka must be pushing 40 but she looks hotter than ever and the simple concept works. EMI Australia need to get on this shit instead of wasting their time and money on Erika!

Kylie's Latest Chart Triumph

Dannii's ancient sister is on fire at the moment. "All The Lovers" not only rebounds from #29 to become a #13 SMASH in Australia this week, the song also jumped to #1 on the US dance chart. The first time Kylie has achieved that feat since "Slow". To be honest, I'm a bit surprised. "All The Lovers" is heavenly but the official mixes are pretty dreadful with the exception of WAWA & MMB's brilliant effort. Speaking of which, here is a fan made video for that remix. I love how the white horse and floating elephant now play starring roles! At least someone knows true talent when they see it. This fabulous shit should be played twice hourly at The Shift until "Get Outta My Way" is unveiled. Which I hope is sooner rather than later because I am officially obsessed with that song. More exciting Kylie news to report as soon as I'm sure I won't be sued!

Gabi Cilmi's Latest Single Is...

"Defender". Hmmmm. I can't decide if this is an inspired decision or the final nail in rotting coffin that is Gabriella's career. While there are far better songs on the diva's criminally underrated sophomore album ("Love Me Cos You Want To", "What If You Knew", "Robots", "Boys" and "Superhot" all spring to mind), this is an obvious attempt at re-connecting with the millions of housewives that bought "Lessons To Be Learned". If you need more convincing that this is an exercise in damage control, the ballad is being released as a double A-side with a cover of Kiki Dee's "Magic Carpet Ride" - which should appeal to grandmothers everywhere! It reeks of desperation but I hope it works. Unlike most of her contemporaries, Gabi has a good voice and "Defender" is actually a rather lovely despite the hateful comments I made in my album review. Whoops! The song is completely overwrought but the Hallmark lyrics still connect with my inner sap and she looks totally hot in the ridiculous video (below). I love it when Gabriella randomly cuts off her hair and gives herself a henna tattoo! Anyway, fingers crossed for some trashy remixes to liven things up. "Defender" is released in the UK on the 22nd of August. Take pity on the poor bitch and buy it.

Baby, There's A Shark In The Water!

Ok, so I'm officially the last person on the VV Brown bandwagon. "Shark In The Water" kind of bored me when it was released last year and I rather stupidly dismissed the singer as another overhyped diva with a great stylist. But then I heard the Static Revenger remix recently and haven't been able to get the song out of my head. This tune is seriously more addictive than chocolate coated crack. I love how the remix beefs up the track without losing the retro charm of the original. All the catchy hooks are still there but the beats are heavier and that gorgeous chorus now packs an even greater punch. VV's smash (in my alternate universe) recently surprised everyone by crawling into the US top 100, so hopefully there's still some life left in her amazing flop album. I've grown to love every track on "Travelling Like The Light" but "Game Over", in particular, is crying out for a re-release. And let's face it. If Shontelle can score a top 15 hit in America, anything is possible! Give Static Revenger's fabulous "Shark In The Water" overhaul a listen below. This is my jam!

Goldfrapp - "Live" In Sydney

It's festival season in Australia and a flood of acts are doing side shows around the country. The Scissor Sisters didn't exactly blow my mind on Tuesday night and Goldfrapp weren't much better on Thursday. Thank fuck for Florence & The Machine, who are playing four sold out gigs in Sydney next week. That poor bitch might look 45 in the shade but at least she knows how to put on a show - which is more than Alison can say. Unlike the Scissor Sisters concert, I was actually expecting to enjoy this one. "Head First" didn't exactly blow me away when I first heard it but the album has grown on me a lot. Sure, there are no real singles but it's the perfect soundtrack for doing the ironing or washing up. It just kind of politely washes over you without ever really grabbing your attention. Which perfectly sums up the Goldfrapp live experience.

After emerging from what appeared to be a giant metallic arsehole in a feathery outfit that made her look like a gothic Plucka Duck, Alison kicked off the show with "Voicething". Possibly the worst Goldfrapp song ever recorded. She then mimed (or more specifically sang over a backing track) to several cuts from the new album including "Dreaming", "Hunt" and "I Wanna Life". I know second rate talents like Madonna and Britney use this trick all the time but at least they have the decency to do some choreography and spend some cash on pyrotechnics. Alison just stands in front of a wind machine looking bored. Of the new tracks, "Rocket" and "Believer" were definite standouts. However, the band definitely saved the best for last. "Ooh La La", "Black Cherry" and "Train" were a potent reminder of how far ahead of the game Goldfrapp was in the early noughties. They further redeemed themselves by performing "Strict Machine" as the encore - which I still think is one of the greatest pop songs ever written. All in all, not an unpleasant way to spend 90 minutes but I think I'd prefer to play their albums at home. It's not like you could tell the difference.