Out Of Control is Girls Aloud’s fifth record in six years and much to the chagrin of train-loving cheesy pop merchant Pete Waterman (the act were manufactured to compete against his boyband One True Voice on Popstars: The Rivals) Nadine, Cheryl and Co. are sounding better than ever. Taking their cue from last year’s sublime slice of pop that was ‘Call The Shots,’ the girls have left behind the Dick Dale surf guitar and slap bass of old in favour of a new slinky, electro sound and from start to finish the record keeps delivering the hooks.
What’s noticeable this time around is that Nadine’s skyscraper vocals have taken a back seat in favour of letting Cheryl and Kimberly take the lead (‘The Promise’, ‘Turn To Stone’) and the restraint is no bad thing. Out Of Control is more of a mature-sounding record (well, as mature as Girls Aloud can be!) and the feisty five-piece prove that sometimes less really is more (‘Revolution In The Head’). At the moment it seems that Girls Aloud have a point to prove. They are ignoring all the stories of splits and fall-outs and instead concentrating on evolving their sound and strengthening their claim as the world’s best girl band. Out Of Control certainly does all that and more, so forget your indie snobbery and take a listen to the pop release of the year. Your secret will be safe with us.