Fever
Feverwas released on a wave of publicity as the lead single, "Can't Get You out of My Head," battled on the U.K. charts with the debut effort of Spice divaVictoria Beckham--and it won spectacularly. Kylie Minogue's sound has progressed again since the disco-inspiredLight Years, plundering the retro style of post-disco electro from the late 1970s and showing what might have happened ifKraftwerkhad producedDonna SummerorChic. Unlike most pop albums, or indeed pop artists,Feveris geared toward high-energy dance rather than pedestrian "I love lovin' you" ballads. Aside from the aforementioned hit single, another standout is "Give It to Me," a great piece of dance pop that has everything fromBritney-style wailings toBasement Jaxxfunk wrapped up with a catchy and typically suggestive chorus. The closest Minogue gets to a gentler moment is at the very end with "Burning Up," a breezy guitar progression with a laid-back melody, but it doesn't last long as the need to start dancing again takes hold andFeverbreaks into some electro funk, finishing on a definite high.--David Trueman