12

Shaping up nicely

The Pipettes have been on the cusp of the mainstream for a while now and 'Pull Shapes' appears to be a ready made escape route from the bland uniformity imposed on us by all those wretchedly dull guitar bands.

This is technicolor pop that bristles with a kind of unbridled joie de vivre, it's a kiss off to over-wrought balladry and teen angst and it's the most polished number they've produced thus far. Even if the layers of strings at times sound a little 'too' slick – Becki, Gwenno and Rose's collectively incisive delivery raises this number well above the ordinary.

Less retro than previous outings it's proof that there's much more to this trio than polka dot dresses and choreographed dance moves. These are added bonuses of course but they wouldn't mean a jot without killer tunes. 'Pull Shapes' is the kind of song that makes you want to oscillate wildly around your room while belting out the infectious chorus at the top of your lungs. "Clap your hands if you want some more" implore the girls... well what are you waiting for? Get clapping.