Darren Hayes – Darkness
Had it, lost it, got it back on his own terms: here's Derek on the very wonderful Darren Hayes.
The Blow Monkeys – It Pays to Belong
Hey? What did I hear you say? Yes, you're right. The Blow Monkeys were indeed amazing.
Lene Nystrøm – Pretty Young Thing
From "Play With Me" - the decade's other great lost pop album - it's Lene from out of Aqua with the quite frankly terrific 2003 flop "Pretty Young Thing".
Olivia Newton John – Tied Up
The curse of the single from the greatest hits album strikes again! It's the incomparable Olivia Newton John, not singing about bondage despite what the title would have you believe.
Jill Jones – Mia Bocca
Jill Jones - she's bilingual but not single. It's 1987 and all over the world the completely amazing Prince-helmed "Mia Bocca" fails to be a smash hit. Tut.
Karin Park – Thousand Loaded Guns
Dramatic synth-pop from a 6'2" Scandinavian songstress. Where do I sign up?
C.C. Catch – Strangers by Night
Great Britain joined the European Union in 1973. Perhaps one day pop will get that memo.
Niki & The Dove – DJ, Ease My Mind
A magnificent entry in our occasional 'Crying at the Discoteque' series, Niki & The Dove's "DJ, Ease My Mind" demonstrates why Scandinavians do pop better than just about anyone.
Sufjan Stevens – Christmas in the Room
Derek shares his love for "Christmas in the Room" by yuletide enthusiast Sufjan Stevens. A slightly less frantic way of saying "All I want for Christmas is you".
Sam Sparro – 21st Century Life
Hook filled delirious pop? Keep your eye on the Sparro.
Lindsey Buckingham – Go Insane
Derek would rather Fleetwood Mac than jack.
BANKS – Waiting Game
Derek makes the (upper) case for BANKS: purveyor of intense dark pop.
Natalie Imbruglia – Want
I want doesn't get for Natalie Imbruglia's brilliant, searing break-up record.
Tanita Tikaram – Stop Listening
Tanita Tikaram releases absolutely brilliant song entitled "Stop Listening". Record buyers unfortunately take it as an instruction.
Gossip – Move in the Right Direction
Hot Gossip.
702 – Steelo
Ooh, Derek's on the 702 tip.
Cyndi Lauper – Into the Nightlife
2008, and Cyndi Lauper hits the dance floor with predictably brilliant results.
Deptford Goth – Feel Real
Derek on Deptford Goth's gorgeous "Feel Real", and the social anxieties involved when you find yourself standing next to a pop personage.
Ingrid Chavez – Heaven Must Be Near
Derek Crook on the poetic pop of Prince protégée Ingrid Chavez. She co-wrote Justify My Love, fact fans.
Ladytron – Destroy Everything You Touch
I reserve a special place in my heart for the music genre that I shall refer to from now on as the ‘ice cold electro banger’. This relatively niche category […]
Ladyhawke – Paris is Burning
Cast your mind back to 2008/09; 80s synth pop revivalism was at its height and it seemed every act (new or established) was trying on a shiny synth style in […]
Into the Popvoid 