Listen Up! was first released 12 months ago, when only the most well informed had heard of Gossip, never mind their force of nature lead singer Beth Ditto. 12 months later, with Ditto becoming an unlikely style icon and previous single Standing In The Way Of Control taking over all known radio play, the time is ripe for a re-issue.
The song itself has been remixed following the success of the Soulwax version of its predecessor, and that's a bit of a shame. The original was a slow-burning masterpiece, but the dance beat tagged on here robs it slightly of its urgency. It's still brilliant though, a bona fide anthem that you can dance to without being remotely cheesy.
It's Ditto's voice that dominates the song, virtually commanding you to Listen Up and do her bidding. And even if you already have the album, it's worth buying just for the B-side, an astonishing reconstruction of Aaliyah's Are You That Somebody.
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