Soho Dolls - 'Ribbed Music For The Numb Generation' (Filthy Pretty) Released 03/09/07

The album begins with ‘Stripper’. The riff which leads it off might have Marilyn Manson tapping his feet and the sleazy guitars which are so evident throughout drive the song. Maya’s vocals are seductive one minute and then riotous the next as the refrain of ‘Hey Stripper!’ repeats over the chorus. ‘Prince Harry’ sounds a little like Madonna in her American Pie days with enough sass and upbeat pop tempo to make it catchy.  The album is very similar in style for the most part and thus the sumptuous ‘I’m Not Cool’ with its cabaret charm and slowing in pace serve as a highlight.

The themes are dark and underground with lust, violence and police car chases featuring prominently. ‘Pleasures of Soho’ matches the music to the mood in a journey through the sleaze and sex of Soho. It is unfortunately the lack of variation which detracts greatest from a fine debut. When stripped down this is simple pop music with an eighties edge and can become tiresome at points such as the lacklustre ‘Trash the Rental’.  ‘No Regrets’ does feel uncomfortably similar to all sorts of music but for the most part they hit the target with what they’re aiming for. Maya’s vocals are seductive and the bass and synths are as smooth as can be. 

It seems Goldfrapp and Peaches now have some serious competition in the sleazy end of rock and roll.