Class Actress - Rapprocher

The title of Class Actress' debut Rapproacher is French for 'come closer' and one track is also called 'Bienvenue', so there's a faintly French theme running through this record. But it’s definitely no concept album – with lyrics like “You’re gonna miss me so bad” immediately followed by “you’re the only one for me” the inconsistency is almost annoying.

But hey, at least it doesn't pretend to try and be deep. Rapprocher is meant to be catchy, fun and chart topping. And for someone with a self-proclaimed penchant for George Michael and Wham!, this is probably Elizabeth Harper’s (the name and face behind Class Actress) take on recreating those same feelings of happy-go-lucky naivety in a style more popular in the present day. So the album definitely ticks the first two boxes, but only time will tell for the third.

Harper is an American singer who has previously released some solo material under her own name, but has now re-branded herself as Class Actress. It's a cleverly calculated move – putting the same sultry voice under the new pseudonym, and teaming up with musician/producer Mark Richardson has brought her much more attention this time.

'Weekend' is a standout track, jumping straight out with its synthy keys that drip with 80s reverb, and a cracking snare drum in between Harper's heavily produced, but beautiful, vocals. It’s all wrapped up snugly in a warm bassline that doesn't dominate; it's nicely balanced, but no doubt that balance will be chucked out the window and bassline-injected by DJs at dance clubs everywhere. Indeed, ‘Weekend’ so clearly screams 'make me a dance anthem!' that apparently it has already been on some of the circuits in America.

'Keep You', the opening track, is also gorgeous, a melancholy, simple piece of electronic catchiness. The second song, 'Love Me Like You Used To', has a slightly slower tempo, to break your ear in slowly; another sweet, catchy synth-electro track but with a more despairing ambience to it.

The rest of the album is essentially more of the same – slight melodic variations on the first few fantastic tracks. That said, sorry Class Actress but it's very funny that the lyrics of your last song, 'Let Me In', go “everything you say sounds the same!” Make no mistake though, the first three tracks really are very strong, so although the rest of the 'samey' tracks may not be terribly different they're nice quality stuff.

Overall Rapprocher is an album that fits in smoothly with all the other 80's slash 90s revivals. It's not incredible, but it's done well. Catchy simplicity, syrupy, hyper-colour synthesised electronic beats all wrapped around Class Actress' glossy vocals. A lot of it is similar to other 80s-inspired electro acts such as La Roux (particularly the tracks ‘Keep You’ and ‘Prove Me Wrong’) while others (‘Missed’, ‘Bienvenue’, ‘Love Me Like You Used To’) have the faint nostalgia of dancy r'n'b pop from the 90s and more recent electro-dance outfits like Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

This is a great party spinner that doesn't ask for any deep analytical attention. It's perfectly suited to being pulled apart and remixed in a hundred different ways, and Harper could well supply vocals for other producers looking for a sleek set of pipes to go with their music in the future.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Class Actress
Rapproacher
Out now through EMI