In 2006, The Gossip’s breakthrough album Standing in the Way of Control was much more than their big salutation to the music-world, the track from which the album took its name became analogous with the year and pre-eminent in the canon of protest songs. Three years later, Gossip have dropped the “The” from their epithet and undertaken the unenviable task of proving that there’s more to ‘em than that one song that propelled them out of obscurity three years ago. It’s a feat made all the harder when the lead singer, Beth Ditto’s celebrity—the media has been perenially fascinated with the 16-stone dyke Southerner—in the interim teeters perilously close to achieving greater prominence than the band’s music.

So, how does Music for Men pan out? A departure from the 2006 serrated-edge punk form is to be expected  since this is their first major label release, and producer Rick Rubin (Johnny Cash, Beastie Boys) and his trademark reductive stamp have been employed.

“Dimestore Diamond” is a bluesy introduction to an assort thumping drums, funk and dance sounds. Ditto’s vocals are less gnarled and sometimes, dare I say it, mellifluous but it still bellows soulfully and is the centre-point from which each and every track radiates. This album is certainly more romantic than the previous outing but there is still some prickle. Listen out for sampling of Aretha Franklin’s “Changes” and playful paraphrasing of Marvin Gaye on “Love Long Distance”.

Between the cantering guitar and relentless bass drum of “Heavy Cross” and the synthy beats of “Pop Goes the World”, there is bound to be at least one track here which will receive the approval of your dancing feet.

Tracks to Download: “Heavy Cross”, “Love Long Distance”