Buzz

by Steps

Overview

Maybe it was merely a Steps overplay, between consistent singles and a new album each year, but it seemed like time for the group to embark on something new. Buzz avoids the pitfalls of repetition they had fallen into and, while it remains embedded in nostalgia for ABBA, the inspiration this time seems to derive from their own sound. They do in fact have their own sound, and it has revealed itself here, crystal clear. Buzz is arranged like clockwork, beginning with a disco dance track called "Stomp," and when they shout "Everybody clap your hands, get on up and dance," it is not a faulty request -- the album really does press the dancing buttons on your toes. There are very worthy, if trendy, pop bits like "It's the Way You Make Me Feel" and "Happy Go Lucky" (which may be an unconscious tribute to Britney Spears' work) as well as the title track, which is blissful. The male members play a better role than before, sticking to the background and only coming to the lead vocals when their voices will serve the role. There is a sense of risk-taking, of confidence, that pulls the album through the dance music, the electrical pop, and the couple of ballads. That's right, only a couple. They saved the best for last, "If You Believe," written and sung by group member Faye Tozer and co-written by Cyndi Lauper and Jan Pulsford. It is a great song because of great writing but, without the right singer, it wouldn't have pulled off the same height of emotion that it does. It is more than all right and, as lyrically simple as it is, it is all-encompassing. No offense to anyone in Steps, who are all energetic and talented, but they have a gem in the palm of their hand with Tozer -- for their sake, she's worth keeping. ~ Peter Fawthrop

Product Details

Release Date:	03/22/2024
Label:	Demon/Edsel
UPC:	5014797911000
Rank:	62642

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Steps   Primary Artist
Rita Campbell   Vocals (Background)
Phil Palmer   Guitar
Pete Gordeno   Keyboards
Anders Von Hofsten   Vocals (Background)
Esbjoern Oehrwall   Guitar
Henrik Janson   Conductor
Gavyn Wright   Violin
T-Bone Wolk   Guitar
Andy Duncan   Percussion
Jeanette Olsson   Vocals (Background)
Greg Bone   Guitar
Tee Green   Vocals
Graham Stack   Keyboards
Karl Twigg   Keyboards
Ernie McCone   Bass
Riprock   Keyboards
Mark Topham   Bass
Gustave Lund   Percussion
Ulf Janson   Conductor
Andreas Carlsson   Vocals (Background)
Andy Caine   Vocals (Background)
Chris Cameron   Conductor
Nick Ingman   Conductor
Lance Ellington   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Jan Pulsford   Composer
David Krueger   Producer
Richard Dowling   Mastering
Jimmy Bralower   Drum Programming
Sean Hosein   Composer
Pete Waterman   Composer
Ray Hedges   Composer
Matt Aitken   Composer
Michael Stock   Composer
Michael Garvin   Composer
Nile Rodgers   Composer
Stock, Aitken & Waterman   Composer
Andreas "Quiz" Romdhane   Mixing,Arranger,Producer
Jorgen Elofsson   Composer,Producer
Lisa Scott-Lee   Composer
Simon Hill   Drum Programming
Dave Deviller   Composer
Josef Larossi   Producer
Tee Green   Vocal Arrangement
Graham Stack   Producer,Programming
Barry Upton   Composer
Mark "Ridders" Risdale   Engineer
Karl Twigg   Composer,Producer
Bernard Loor   Mixing Engineer
Paul Waterman   Producer
Riprock   Drum Programming
Steve Price   Engineer
Claire Richards   Composer
Michael Tucker   Mixing Engineer
Steven Crosby   Composer
Mark Topham   Composer,Producer
Oskar Paul   Composer
Ian "H" Watkins   Composer
Shane Stoneback   Assistant Engineer
Chris DeStefano   Drum Programming
Matt Aiken   Composer
Nigel Butler   Arranger,Composer
Faye Tozer   Composer
Ulf Janson   Arranger
Andrew Frampton   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Andy Goldmark   Arranger,Composer,Producer
Andreas Carlsson   Composer
Bernard Edwards   Composer
Chris Cameron   String Arrangements
Cyndi Lauper   Composer
Nick Ingman   Arranger
Rita Campbell   Composer