The Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home

"Do nothing, eat your chocolate, drink your wine, she won't let you make your way across her empire line" singer Kate Jackson teases on 'Giddy Stratospheres'. And this sums up The Long Blondes.

Dubbed a Sheffield band because they met there, The Long Blondes confirm that Sheffield must be split into two very different halves. Where the Arctic Monkey's city consists of pints, prostitutes and pool, The Long Blondes occupy a glamorous world of wine, feminism and faded movie stars.

Someone To Drive You Home sets out its Blondie-inspired stall early on. Opening track 'Lust In The Movies' screeches into life and sees Jackson alternate between singing sultry verses in Queens' English to shouting a chorus line of stars that needs a Wikipedia translation.

Those who have heard the band will know 'Once And Never Again' which has been hitting dance floors as DJs battle it out to 'discover' the band first. The song is a sickly-sweet patronising pop lesson for young girls everywhere with the line "19, you're only 19 for God's sake, you don't need a boyfriend."

And much of the album continues in the same way, with Jackson and co. teaching women and tempting men with lyrical wit, vintage Hollywood chic and a raft of references you'll pretend you knew all along.

'Giddy Stratospheres' is an album highlight and sees the best result of The Long Blondes disco combination of heavy bass topped with Jackson's glassy vocals. The song is understated, stylish and it simmers until Jackson's piercing chorus that despite sounding strained, will have you weak at the knees.

The slick production of the album helps maintain the bands effortless persona and thankfully it reins Jackson in enough to avoid too many fingernails-down-the-blackboard high notes.

This is shown best in the new versions of 'Separated By Motorways' and 'Weekend Without Makeup' that are souped up, speeded up and sure to please old and new fans alike.

Up until recently The Long Blondes were the coolest unknown band, reserved for a select few who could discuss them over glasses of gin and tonic and nibbles. Someone To Drive You Home is a confident sophisticated invite for the rest of us to join them in their glamorous world. And who could refuse an offer like that?

Luke Frost