Twenty-five years since they arrived fully formed with the irresistible ‘I Don’t Want A Lover’, Sharleen Spiteri and Co. are back with an album that looks even further into the past for inspiration.

The key ingredient is the great Richard Hawley, who collaborates on seven songs, recorded in his Sheffield studio and which form the core of the album. His influence is writ large and is instantly apparent on ‘I Will Always’, which harks back to the lush classic pop of the early ‘60s (think Everly Brothers, Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison), and ‘If This Isn’t Real’, with a classic riff that calls to mind The Police’s ‘Every Breath You Take’. Elsewhere, the catchy, upbeat ‘Be True’ is another nostalgic Motown-sounding pop tune, ‘Big World’ is a brassy soul workout and ‘Hearts Are Made To Stray’ is old-school Texas but with the Hawley twang added for good measure. Meanwhile, the smouldering, slow-burning ‘I Will Always’ is closer to Marianne Faithful: yet again, Hawley’s trademark retro-stylings are all over it.
The title-track, ‘The Conversation’, is a so-so song built around a guitar riff with a melody which is a tad Eurovision. However, it’s the only negative on an album with more than a enough positives – not to mention several potential hit singles.

Key Track: ‘If This Isn’t Real’