Hard to think that Bryan Blackand Oliver Grassat are the same pair who fire out those incendiary techno missiles as Motor but when you consider that the pedigree afoot here includes stints with Felix Da Housecat, New Order and Prince’s Paisley Park studios, the diversity is not so surprising. Xlover sees the duo expand to a four-piece with model singer Nina Rai and Guitarist Scott Fairbrother (Death In Vegas, Client). The thirteen tracks are steeped in the current Gigolos sound of dirty, shouty, sexy, rock-tinged, electro-based vamping with titles like ‘Lovesucker’, ‘Sex Rebel’ and ‘Sex Or Head’ nailing Nina’s sleazy overtures to a very erect mast. But there’s more afoot as cinematic atmospheres are whipped up, New Order guitar riffs give way to punk-style thrash and tracks like ‘Strip Down’ take an effective, more low-key approach. There’s also a belting version of Prince’s ‘Darling Nikki’. This one stands out (missus).
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: KRIS NEEDS
