It’s been five years since Kate Nash released her last album, the indifferently received Girl Talk. Whilst that album had real punk rock resolve, its lack of immediate hooks were a handicap. Nash’s new LP, Yesterday Was Forever, retains the spirited vitality of the previous album, but also brings a renewed, vivacious sense of melody. Despite the commercial sound of much of the record, Nash has taken the independent route, and released the album herself via Kickstarter. It’s a sheer joy from start to finish. The album opens with fantastic single ‘Life In Pink’, which recalls Wendy James at her Transvision Vamp best. Elsewhere, ‘Call Me’ and ‘Take Away’ are addictive moments of new wave bliss, while ‘Twisted Up’ similarly juxtaposes hard-edged energetic verses with melodic choruses – a signature style of the album. Nash sounds distinct and authentic, her sharp North London tones standing out amongst the bland autotuned voices that blare out ad nauseum from daytime radio. On more laidback songs such as ‘Hate You’ and ‘Body Heat’, the singer also summons a more classic style of pop singing to suit the smooth production. Indeed, this is the kind of vibrant, inspirational pop music that works wonders for the soul; the album is full of three-minute nuggets that leave you yearning for one more chorus. Quite simply, Yesterday Was Forever is one of the finest pop albums of recent times. OUT NOW 

Rating: 9/10