For all intents and purposes, Little Mix are the new Girls Aloud – both musically and in their conception on a reality TV programme. Yet where Girls Aloud brought girl power kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century, Little Mix are unable to escape the girl band template that previous groups have moulded.
‘DNA’ is essentially girl band 101. Like Girls Aloud, there are some solid pop
tunes on offer, with Going Nowhere written
by GA’s own Nicola Roberts. But there’s
a strong 90s RnB vibe on ‘DNA’ – clearly inspired by the girls’ X-Factor performance
of En Vogue’s Don’t Let Go. In fact, Red
Planet is essentially a re-working of the same track, featuring T-Boz of
TLC fame. The Shaznay Lewis penned How Ya Doin’ (which includes a sample
from De La Soul’s Ring Ring Ring) is
a throwback to All Saints and their own Booty
Call with its phone call intro and outro.
Then there’s Stereo Soldier with
its Destiny’s Child style snare rhythms from Lose My Breath and Leona Lewis-esque middle-eight; the Beyonce
influenced debut single Wings; and the
extravagant Jessie J-esque warbler Change
Your Life recently performed on Children In Need. Even the album’s cover art is almost imitating Stooshe.
It all leads to an album that lacks individuality – a bit
like the girl’s themselves, who seem more famous for dating various members of boy
band equivalent One Direction. The
upbeat tracks certainly outshine the slushy ballads and current single DNA is a clear highlight with its
stuttering and infectious chorus, matched by a strong dub-step beat.
We Are Who We Are
is another high point. It might be the
girls’ answer to TLC’s Unpretty, but
it’s the most honest and fun track on the album and an obvious future
single. Little Mix are all about female
empowerment which this songs encapsulates.
Overall, though, ‘DNA’ is in need of an injection of personality – as it
stands, this debut is too safe.
2/5
Gizzle's Choice:
* DNA
* How Ya Doin'
* We Are Who We Are
Listen: 'DNA' is available now.
Watch: The girls will be performing across the UK at the start of 2013.