Pixey – Million Dollar Baby

Getting in early on the Pixey craze was a real treat. It is better to goad others with the knowledge of great work than it is to be mocked for not having your finger on the pulse of always moving music scenes. From Sunderland to Hull and now to Leeds as the search continues for sounds worth shouting about. Pixey, the Liverpudlian artist who hit the ground running with Dreams, Pains & Paper Plains, has slowly and assuredly developed a following. Her latest album, Million Dollar Baby, has all the essential pangs of hope and thrill found in the very best of pop music. Pixey was already close to the top before this release, and all she can do now is continue, convincing and confirming her place as one of the best in class. That is what Million Dollar Baby does. 

Opener Man Power is the classy quality expected of Pixey. For those getting their first neo-psychedelic dose from Pixey, this is the place to start. Man Power remains a remarkable opener which sets the scene well. Its bouncy, electronic feel and the pull of strong lyrical subjects and neat phrases is a welcoming yet bold creation. Its title track is a continuation of those topics, the inherent understanding of evolving a sound but keeping it in line with the previous occasion. Make no mistake, Pixey has grown massively between the release of Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes and Million Dollar Baby. Influences from The Prodigy can be heard ever so softly in the background of these instrumentals. The Thrill of It holds the harshness and volatility of relationships, something the likes of The Prodigy managed to engage at their best. 

Warm to those early songs and brace yourself for the best of the bunch – Damage. It gives way to an exceptional string of songs which will, ultimately, provide Pixey with the all-time highs needed for her pop variety. Million Dollar Baby has a slick collection of those great moments – and it should be no surprise Pixey has managed to get to grips with the core of the genre. Not only are the fundamentals in place but Pixey is ahead of the curve, evolving her sound ahead of what is out there. It takes just a few listens of Love Like Heaven or the joys of Bring Back the Beat. Yes, the beat has been brought back. Low-hanging fruit like that is easy to write up, but incredibly difficult to pull off. Pixey makes it sound effortless.  

But there is plenty of effort in this. Songs of redemption and making good on the faith put into your creativity. Oxygen gets to grips with this and the opportunity to spread positivity is a warm glow to embrace. Bask in it and listen on and on. Million Dollar Baby is an exceptional piece of work. A confident release from an artist who has every right to be taking those bold steps. Let the Spotify session drag on a bit more – onto the early track Supersonic Love. Those brave new notes are not lost on ears, fresh or returning. Pixey has crafted something intimate yet explorative and open to listeners old and new. Million Dollar Baby is a fine effort from an artist who is enjoying their chance.