They're back - and they're the Sugababes!

It was a well kept secret when on Friday night Graham Norton announced, almost mumbled, the names of his guest musicians - the Sugababes. Their first performance is an appearance on an album by DJ Spoony.
The significance is that three years after MKS they have finally secured full rights to their original name - the Sugababes.
But, they assured Graham Norton, something special is coming. Let's hope it fares better than the MKS album and the Keisha solo album that never appeared. Since 2016 I've been listening to Siobhan's last solo album, which is a neglected masterpiece (and about the only link that still works on these pages). Keisha's solo album showed a lot of promise, MKS struggled to make music that showcased their talents. On the basis of this weekend's performance, the band all still have amazing voices. The song Flowers worked well but they need song-writing that uses those amazing harmonies and the contrast of their voices.

The stories behind the songs

Ten years on some of the stories behind the songs are emerging. On to 2017.....!

http://www.digitalspy.com/music/feature/a813868/sugababes-the-surprising-stories-behind-six-of-their-biggest-hits/

MKS - Pre-Raphaelite

I loved this interview in the Guardian with pre-Raphaelite style photos of the members of MKS

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/01/mutya-keisha-siobhan-sugababes-mks

Awesome! - MKS the Flatline video

The official video for Flatline has just been released and it's awesome. Really brings out a great song - yes like all the best Sugababes songs Flatline just grows and grows on you.

 

More new songs MKS at La Scala

Here is a superb recording of Love Me Hard...

 

 And I'm Alright

 


And Today 



 And No Regrets. I tip this one for the second single



And here's one of the rave reviews.

MKS Live!

MKS performed live for the first time last night - in London - and there's quite a few postings on YouTube. Here's a new song...
 

 And here's Freak Like Me...

Flatline - in full

Here is Flatline by MutyaKeishaSiobhan, alias MKS, alias the original Sugababes, reunited. Released in the last half hour.

First impressions:
it's a massive production. It tells us that  MKS is going to be a vocal group, singing epic songs. Personally I'm not sure it's a chart topper - I don't think the underlying melody is particularly interesting or singalongable. But I wasn't sure About You Now was a chart-topper when I first heard it. How wrong I was.

It also tells us that MKS will be different from the Sugababes, and from the original Sugababes. More mature, more multilayered, more self-consciously harmonic. And so they should be.

Wonder if it's on YouTube yet.

Flatline

Here it is - the first clip from Flatline by MKS

Somebody's heard Flatline

Hey how come these people have been allowed to hear Flatline first?
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a487108/first-listen-review-mutya-keisha-siobhans-new-single-flatline.html

Well the review suggests a typical Sugababes classic. In fact it's similar to the review I'd have written about About You Now. At first I thought the song was not much, after a few listens I came to the view I've held ever since - that it's one of the best pop songs ever.

As for Overload and Round Round. When I first heard both I thought they were cons, a trick of production. Their tunes and repetitive beat are deceptively simple. But then it becomes apparent there's an incredibly tight harmony, three remarkable voices at play. And that's the extra magic ingredient.

Flatline's name alone suggests it's going to be in this mould. So does the above review. Meanwhile we're being teased by a slow release. Sounds like the song will be another tease - again.

And the name of the first MKS single is....

Flatline

We will hear it this month, the band has promised

MKS - nearly there

A series of tweets by Keisha Buchanan tells us the album's finished and Keisha's delighted with it! That means it should be pretty good because if there's anything that's emerged from the last few year it is that Keisha is a perfectionist. Her taste in music isn't always great, nor her ability to maintain working relationships, but her obsession with delivering great music cannot be challenged. And that's what makes a great artist!

We can't wait to hear it either, Keisha.

" Just really proud of myself & the girls. We've been through so much, u would never believe the stories! But in the end it all makes sense:-)

 "TOO exciting!! I'm dancing to my own voice! 

"Haha Cool! Listening to our album... #FATGRIN #humbled #happy #skankin #Lovingit... I Can Not wait for you to hear this guys my GOD!"

The sound of MKS

According to the notes this is just "a bit of fun", mash up  laid down at the end of a recording session in California. Sounds a lot like TLC, only better.

Can't wait for the album!   

MKS live and unplugged

Mutya, Keisha, Siobhan live in front of a camera, acapella, no backing instruments, no autotuner.

 Amazing! 

 

New Year - from MKS

MKS performing their original Sugababes' song New Year for 2013:

MKS Live!

And here's crude video emerging of MKS performing their first live gig at a New Year's Eve party. Here's Siobhan performing Freak Like Me for the first time...