Peaches - I Feel Cream

Rating:

* * * *

The queen of raunchy and rude has lassooed her libido and reined it in - just a little at least. Because as potty-mouthed opener

Serpentine

and the saucy title track to her fourth album shows, she's not about to submit. Whereas before it was all about thrust and lust,

I Feel Cream

reveals a never seen before beauty on Peaches' most poppy and accessible record yet. She's still far more staunch and dirty than the likes of Lady Gaga and the Pussycat Dolls would ever dream of being, but while it's not as X-rated as before, it's still adults-only territory.

Her trademark electro punk sound and in-yer-face rapping remains intact too, yet Peaches takes her brazen and promiscuous musical ways in more diverse directions. She sings more, often hushed and sweetly like on

I Feel Cream

, and musically there's the climactic early 90s house-versus-trance trip of

More

, the galactic drone and beat of

Show Stopper

, and the industrial Kraftwerk-meets-Grace Jones of

Mud

is a catchy plodder. And tracks like

Lose You

(easily the most moving song she's ever written) and the banging soul of

Talk To Me

(where the girl shows she's got pipes) are what make this album so refreshing.

Peaches still rocks - like Lady Gaga's more experienced older sister - but

I Feel Cream

is also one to dance to.

Scott Kara