The offshoot of New York nu-disco darlings Hercules and Love Affair, Jessica 6 delve into soul and synthpop on their mesmerising debut. Trans frontwoman Nomi Ruiz is a 21st century Amanda Lear, giving the three-piece's oft-eerie electronica a liberal coating of androgyne honey. Album highlight is reunion with past collaborator Antony Hegarty Prisoner of Love, where the chilling refrain 'why was I born only to be a slave?' takes the clipped strings and Game Boy bloops into 4am anti-anthem territory. The early-90s RnB groove of Freak The Night sounds like a lost Babyface production, while In The Heat shimmers with the instantly-timeless feel of a disco floorfiller. Forget Hercules, this is your new love affair.
4/5
