A surprise this. From one of the most stylised groups of electro-clash revivalists comes an excellent second album. The key is that Zoot Woman are basically a song-based trio. They have a fine frontman in the shape of Johnny Blake and a knowledgable duo behind him who add their crucial populist edge; Stuart Price AKA Jacques Le Cont has recently been employed as director of Madonna's 'Drowned World' tour which can't have done him any harm. Just to prove that excellent earlier single 'It's Automatic' was no fluke 'Grey Day' and 'Taken It All' pulse with soulful melodies and 'Gem' and 'Hope In The Mirror' demonstrate that time spent listening to Kraftwerk records weren't wasted. After a brief lapse in the middle of the album, momentum is recaptured with the staccato riffing and angsty delivery of 'Useless Anyway' and the closing 'Maybe Say' and 'Half Full Of Happiness' tell a tale of lovelorn and lonely nights. Impressively deep as well as tuneful Zoot Woman are confirmed as a fine band.