Madonna ‎– Confessions On A Dance Floor

Probably Madonna's most dancefloor friendly album (as if the title was a clue) and likewise, her most cohesive follwing the rather colourful 'Music' LP and the more sombre 'American Life' LP. Most of the album is, of course, co-produced by Stuart Price (better known as Thin White Duke/Jacques Lu Cont/Les Rythmes Digitales/Paper Faces) who brings his golden touch to proceedings. 'Hung Up' and 'Get Together' are highlights of the album, proving that Madonna's vocals sit perfectly on pulsing house grooves that are very obviously inspired by acts such as Daft Punk; Price proves his worth by minipulating THAT Abba sample into 'Hung Up' without it overpowering the rest of the track, or indeed the album, which in turn has given Madonna one of her most memorable and biggest hits of her career. Other tracks that Price has Co-Produced (and in the case of 'Get Together' reproduced from a much more frothy pop record) all carry his Thin White Duke Sound, without sounding repetitive or unoriginal. Through his input into the album there have been some very obvious nods to acts that have inspired him such as PetShop Boys (of whom he borrows the bassline from 'West End Girls' for 'Jump'), Daft Punk and Giorgio Moroder. One track that stands out is 'Isaac', a kaballah influenced track that echoes 'Knights Of The Jaguar' in both its pace and melody (and lyrically it also has a very strong spiritual sound). Other singles 'Jump' and 'Sorry' also prvide further insight into this new direction in sound. Madonna also collaborates with Mirwais (of 'Music' fame) on one track, as well as Bloodshy & Avant on a further two. The tracklisting, perhaps more upbeat than previous Madonna LP's, has been carefully thought out; it wouldn't be so obvious to anyone who owns the vinyl edition of this album (which is beatifully pressed on pink vinyl). The CD format works like a disco album of the 70's, it isn't mixed like a club compilation album, but is segued together (by Price funilly enough) into an hour long suite, meaning a continuous flow of music with tracks often linked together using layers of riffs from adjoining tracks or some clever use of synths and sweeping pads. The finished album is somewhere between pop and club, and is filled with dancefloor gems that work just as well on your home stereo as they do in a club. By far Madonna's most daring album in terms of production (even if she has had some help along the way) and definatly worth having.