Little Mix followed up their 2011 X Factor victory with a surprisingly good debut that seemed aimed squarely at filling the void left by Girls Aloud's hiatus (one song was even co-written by Nicola Roberts). The follow-up starts off promisingly, the title track press-ganging every military cliche to hand (sirens! A Last Post pastiche! "Your country needs you!" Bellows of "Atten-shun"!) for a call to arms for the world's women that turns into Battlestar by 90s boyband Five as it reaches its chorus. It shouldn't work, but is delivered with such chutzpah that it has a certain ludicrous charm. The sabre-rattling theme recurs at the end with A Different Beat, which marches to an undeniably martial rhythm. However, with the exception of Little Me, a refettling of Destiny's Child's Survivor, what falls in between is polished enough 21st-century R&B by the numbers, but rather less entertaining.
Little Mix: Salute – review
Phil Mongredien
A military theme runs through this formulaic second album from the X Factor winners, but sadly most of it parades a lack of original ideas
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Phil Mongredien
Phil Mongredien works on the Guardian's opinion desk. He also reviews albums for Q magazine
Phil Mongredien
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