and you'll forgive your heart for wasting any time

Neh. Whatever happens at hmv would all be worth it, for I have managed to get a single copy of the Pipette's debut release from the states that would otherwise not have been brought into Singapore at all. Hah yes I know but the uk version of ' We Are The Pipettes' is not enough for me! For s$23 too, about half the price of the uk one.

Besides there are two additional tracks plus the songs have been tweaked and reproduced, and there is a blast of the cover art and inside liner notes. There is nothing quite like turning up your jacket's collar and plugging in the pipettes at eleven at night while walking through a light rain along the road in town to dhoby ghaut. Well it may had developed into a full scale bloody downpour and a sprint like hell later on, but who cares.

The Pipettes sound as refreshing and ever so lively as the first time I heard them two years back, and some of them really do sound better after the new productions. Especially the new extended " It Hurts To See You Dance So Well", which seems much polished and punched than the previous versions of which I've heard.

I supposed the new sleekness and spunk is a reflection of how the Pipettes have grown, from an underground cult live hit to a fully fledged stage act that is in demand in stages from around the world ( the states/ aus/ and oh what I would give to see them here). Their raw sweet sound that was as much a part of their endearing charm has subtly changed into a polished candid tone that is as attractive, if not more so, than before.

More importantly would be that somehow, there is this sense of maturity in the way they sing now, something a little surer, or perhaps the word would be with a honed * elegance*. Haha dont ask me to describe that exactly, for it is the same as one those feelings you sometimes get when you know how someone is just *like*, by being around them even without you even really looking at all.

There is no better example of this than in one of their two new tracks in this album. The opening oooh-ahs are simply magic, sung so plainly sincere that it gives such a refreshing slant to the classic retro opening. The Pipettes know that their vocal harmonies are their most alluring aspect of the music, and have honed it to an absolute stunning peak in " Baby, Just Be Yourself". I mean just listen to the part where they go " I know it's hard/ ..." and tell me if you do not agree with me.

There is only so much I can say with words though so just put the song on please, and enjoy.

The Pipettes - Baby, Just Be Yourself