Mari Wilson - Girl About Town

Good News; Love Letter; Lost On The Dancefloor; Man About Town; Because Of You; Spellbound; We Got Something; Kaleidoscope; Tomatoes In The Fridge; Come On Out

(Beehive Records)

Mari Wilson has never been one to do things by halves, and Girl About Town is a colourful reminder that the Neasden Queen of Soul still knows how to make pop music with personality, panache and a generous helping of feel-good charm. Her first album of original material in more than a decade, it finds Wilson embracing the sounds she loves while proving that a distinctive voice and a knack for a memorable melody never go out of fashion.

Best known for her 1982 hit Just What I Always Wanted and her instantly recognisable beehive image, Wilson has long occupied her own corner of British pop. Here, she steps confidently beyond the nostalgia circuit, blending vintage soul, infectious pop, disco rhythms and playful jazz touches into ten original songs co-written with longtime musical collaborator Adrian York.

Opener Good News sets the tone beautifully, delivering an uplifting slice of soul-pop with a bright melody and a chorus that feels like a much-needed injection of optimism. It is followed by Love Letter a gentler, more intimate affair that allows Wilson’s warm, expressive vocals to take centre stage. There is a genuine affection for classic Sixties soul running through the record, but these songs feel like a continuation of Wilson’s musical journey rather than a straightforward exercise in retro recreation.

Lost on the Dancefloor is an irresistible highlight, recalling the excitement of Eighties club culture with a lively groove and a knowing nod to Wilson’s own musical past. Meanwhile, Man About Town brings a playful, jazz-inflected sophistication, while Because of You reveals a more vulnerable side to a singer whose charm has always extended beyond her flamboyant image.

The album also has room for a few unexpected twists. Spellbound introduces a more atmospheric, psychedelic edge, while We Got Something gets straight to the business of delivering a catchy chorus and an infectious rhythm. Kaleidoscope lives up to its name with a colourful mixture of sounds, and Tomatoes in the Fridge finds humour in the everyday irritations of relationships. It is a reminder that Wilson understands the value of a good pop song that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Throughout, the arrangements are polished without losing their warmth, and Wilson’s voice remains the album’s greatest asset. She possesses a natural sense of phrasing and timing, delivering each song with the confidence of someone who understands that personality can be just as important as vocal power. The closing Come On Out brings proceedings to an upbeat conclusion, leaving the listener with a suitably sunny afterglow.

There is no attempt here to recapture the chart success of the early Eighties, nor does there need to be. Girl About Town is a celebration of an artist who has spent decades following her own musical instincts and has emerged with her individuality intact.