N.K.-pop

"Heaton remains the go-to chronicler of the Everyman condition, but let's not underplay Abbott's vital contribution as both equal-billing foil and relatable conduit of female perspectives in these songs. Plays not just for today, but for weeks, months and years to come".

Læs anmeldelse

"Released in early 2020, the ambitious double album Manchester Calling was the duo's fourth UK Top Five hit and first to go all the way to number one. The follow-up, N.K-Pop, finds Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott returning to the studio with producer John Williams and the same backing band. A like-minded, generally uplifting, uptempo set (this time comprising a still generous 12 songs), it even opens with a track called "The Good Times." Bright but lyrically wistful, the song looks back - in character - upon the life of a formative sweetheart, while touching briefly upon disco, reggae, and arena rock within a bouncy pop framework".

Læs anmeldelse

"Paul Heaton's resurgence from reduced-circumstances solo act to stadium headliner has been a joy to behold. For his fifth outing with former Beautiful South singer Jacqui Abbott, without retreading old ground, he's not strayed too far from his usual template: beautifully crafted yet unashamedly earthy songs which soar and contemplate at just the right moment".