Little Boots: Nocture — album review

English electro-pop producer/DJ Little Boots’ (aka Victoria Hesketh) sophomore album, is said to be a celebration of 90s house and 70s disco with more than a dash of electronica throw in for good measure, and for the most part Nocturne delivers on this promise. After 2009’s much-hyped Hands failed to propel Hesketh to pop stardom we find her in a more introspective mood here, but this album is not the least bit dark. Hesketh’s trademark bittersweet vocals are set in sound beds, that courtesy of producer Tim Goldsworthy, can at one moment evoke Kraftwerk (“Motorway”) or the Kate Bush the next (“All For You”) while retaining their unique edge. Other standout tracks include the disco-infused “Beat Beat”, the soaring “Crescendo” and dance-floor stomper “Satellites”.