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Jul 25, 2014 Web Exclusive By J. Pace

Uttering “I know the temperature is rising” on opener “Uptight Downtown” or “walking alone on a sunny beach” on “Paradise Is You,” La Roux‘s eccentric, redheaded namesake Elly Jackson quickly makes some claims for the Summer Jam here. Her approach is as playful, hooky, and pumped-up as ever. A little more pumped-up, even; it eclipses its mid-fi full-length predecessor (the eponymous La Roux from 2009) in the scale of its arrangements, even if it still carries a hint of the handcrafted production, idiosyncratic left-hand synth patterns, and other great giveaways.

There are Off the Wall-era Michael Jackson vibes from “Kiss and Not Tell,” some of those familiar Human League and Eurythmics New Wave leanings on “Cruel Sexuality,” some unabashed Little Red Corvetting on “The Feeling,” and a textbook massive La Roux chorus on “Sexotheque.” On par with that debut? Not quite, but there’s still plenty here to lift a pop fan’s spirits, or potentially lift one’s arse off the couch, if that’s where it’s currently posted. So get up! Give in to summer. Let’s go get ice cream. (www.laroux.co.uk)

Author rating: 7/10