Perimenopop

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Perimenopop
Vinyl and digital edition cover[a]
Studio album by
Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Released12 September 2025[1]
Genre
Length40:35
LabelDecca
Producer
Sophie Ellis-Bextor chronology
Hana
(2023) 		Perimenopop
(2025)
HMV exclusive artwork
Artwork for the Drinking Milk Edition
Artwork for the Drinking Milk Edition
Singles from Perimenopop
  1. "Freedom of the Night"
    Released: 18 October 2024
  2. "Relentless Love"
    Released: 28 March 2025
  3. "Vertigo"
    Released: 25 April 2025
  4. "Taste"
    Released: 9 May 2025
  5. "Dolce Vita"
    Released: 25 July 2025
  6. "Stay on Me"
    Released: 11 September 2025

Perimenopop is the eighth studio album by British singer and songwriter Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 12 September 2025, through Decca Records, marking her first album with the label.[4] The album was preceded by the release of six singles: "Freedom of the Night", "Relentless Love", "Vertigo", "Taste", "Dolce Vita" and "Stay on Me".

Perimenopop was met with widespread critical acclaim, with music critics highlighting Ellis-Bextor's artistry, and overall performance, as well praising the album cohesion, and fusion of disco and pop genres.[5][6][7][8] Commercially, the album charted within the top ten in Scotland, and the United Kingdom, becoming her highest-charting effort in over a decade in the latter, since Wanderlust (2014).[9]

Background

[edit]

After the release of her seventh studio album Hana, Ellis-Bextor announced plans to return to her early pop sound with a tentative album titled The Invisible Line.[10] In late 2023, following the release of the film Saltburn, her 2001 single "Murder on the Dancefloor" re-entered international charts, reaching its original peak at number two on the UK Singles Chart and charting in the United States for the first time.[11] By the end of 2024, it was the year’s best-selling single by a female artist in the UK.[12] During this period, Ellis-Bextor signed with Universal Music Group to release her eighth studio album, and released the album lead single, "Freedom of the Night", accompanied by a music video directed by Sophie Muller, which served as a continuation of "Murder on the Dancefloor".[13][14]

On 9 May, it was announced that Ellis-Bextor’s eighth studio album would be titled Perimenopop, a wordplay on "perimenopause" and "pop," reflecting the stage of life she is in while creating pop music.[15] She commented that she had previously felt when she was younger that she might not be able to continue working in the pop genre as she get older, but noted that attitudes have changed with younger generations.[16] Ellis-Bextor stated: "I actually think a lot of my kids' generation don't care what age you are, they just want to have good music."[16] According to the album’s press release, Perimenopop is "a playful celebration" of her current life and music career.[17] The album was promoted as the record Ellis-Bextor was "meant to make," marking a confident return to her established dance-pop style.[18] In a social media post, Ellis-Bextor said about the album:[19]

“I’ve been singing for 30 years now – i know! – and throughout my career I’ve been lucky enough to happily play with many music genres, but my heart beats the fastest for pop. This album is a celebration of that relationship. In fact, it’s a celebration of lots of things, including being the age I’m at and still having so many adventures and so much fun!”[20]

— Ellis-Bextor on her new album, via Melodic Magazine[21]

Composition

[edit]

The album features production by Karma Kid, James Greenwood, Jon Shave, Kid Harpoon, Baz Kaye, Finn Keane, Richard Stannard, Duck Blackwell, Chris Greatti, and Luke Fitton, with additional production by Ellis-Bextor’s husband and the Feeling bassist, Richard Jones.[22] During the making of the album, Ellis-Bextor collaborated with a variety of singers and songwriters from dance, and pop genres, including Clementine Douglas, MNEK, Jin Jin, Julia Michaels, Nile Rodgers, Shura, Sigrid, and Selena Gomez.[22]

Promotion

[edit]

Singles

[edit]

The album spawned six singles. "Freedom of the Night", released on 18 October 2024, served as the album lead single. It was followed by "Relentless Love" and "Vertigo" as the second and third singles in 2025.[23][24] "Taste" was released as the fourth single on 9 May, alongside the album’s announcement.[25] "Dolce Vita" was issued as the fifth single on 25 July.[26] A day before the album’s release, on 11 September, "Stay on Me" was released as the album sixth single, accompanied by a music video directed by Sophie Muller.[27][28]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[29]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[30]
Clash7/10[31]
Euphoria.[32]
The Independent[33]
Jenesaispop[34]
The Line of Best Fit9/10[35]
musicOMH[36]
Music Week[37]
Musikexpress[38]

Upon release, Perimenopop received critical acclaim from music critics. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, Perimenopop received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 84 out of 100 from 5 critic scores.[29] It is Ellis-Bextor's highest-rated project on the site.[29]

Quentin Harrison of The Line of Best Fit awarded the album nine out of ten, calling it a "reclamation and refinement" from an artist who helped define "the U.K. dance scene of the 2000s."[35] He described Perimenopop as "always an engaging listen" and praised Ellis-Bextor’s vocal performance for how "effectively she handles vulnerable stock with her vocal instrument."[35] Harrison also commended her songwriting, noting that her "pen leads on every cut," and highlighted her overall musicianship, stating that the record and her choice of collaborators demonstrate her "commitment to her vocation in how she balances both compositional substance and hooks aplenty in her songcraft."[35] Roisin O’Connor of The Independent rated the album four out of five stars, describing Ellis-Bextor as being "in her most commanding, confident form."[33] She wrote that with Perimenopop, Ellis-Bextor "is out to prove that, however our ageist, misogynist music industry might see it, women are more than capable of churning out bangers past the age of 25," adding that Ellis-Bextor "succeeds, spectacularly."[33]

Christina Mohr of Musikexpress praised Ellis-Bextor confidence and ability to "radiate an indestructible dignity",[38] noting that she "invites everyone to a big 'Menopop' party" on an "unpopular topic in pop, as the female menopause."[38] Mohr added that Ellis-Bextor incorporates "a few scoops of optimism and sexiness" into a production already made to "hit the dancefloors around the world."[38] Graham Finney of TotalNtertainment also gave a positive review, saying that Perimenopop is "the sound of a confident Ellis-Bextor ready to disco dance her way into the next chapter of her story".[39]

Joe McIndoe of Music Week gave the album a perfect score of five out of five stars, describing it as a "big, bright, and irrepressibly catchy" record.[37] McIndoe also commented that "after committing "Murder on the Dancefloor" almost a quarter of a century ago, Ellis-Bextor has killed it once more. Perimenopop is her latest weapon of choice, and she wields it with exuberant aplomb."[37] Andrew Braithwaite of Music Talkers, also gave the album a positive review, stating that "Perimenopop is Ellis-Bextor at her most confident—radiant disco for grown-up dreamers that proves pop doesn’t just survive mid-life, it thrives there."[40]

Track listing

[edit]
Perimenopop track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Relentless Love"
4:03
2."Vertigo"
Greenwood3:31
3."Taste"
Shave2:50
4."Stay on Me"
3:07
5."Dolce Vita"
3:31
6."Time"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Emenike
  • Shave
Shave4:08
7."Glamorous"
3:21
8."Freedom of the Night"
  • Stannard
  • Blackwell
  • Jones
  • Chris Greatti
3:12
9."Layers"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Greenwood
Greenwood3:23
10."Diamond in the Dark"
3:04
11."Heart Sing"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Keane
  • Raabe
3:09
12."Don't Know What You've Got Until It's Gone"
  • Ellis-Bextor
  • Luke Fitton
  • Hannah Robinson
3:12
Total length:40:35

Notes

[edit]
  • ^a signifies an additional producer.
  • ^[v] signifies a vocal producer.

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal.[41]

Musicians

[edit]
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor – vocals
  • David Wrench – programming (tracks 1–3, 5–12); percussion (8), synthesizer (8)
  • Jackson Ellis-Leach – drums (1, 2, 12)
  • Adam Kaye – guitar, synthesizer (1, 5); piano (1); bass guitar, shō (5)
  • Samuel Knowles – synthesizer (1, 5), drum programming (1), digital piano (5)
  • Guy Pratt – bass guitar (1, 5)
  • Gioele Nuzzo – percussion (1, 12)
  • David Arnold – strings arrangement (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Ben Foster – concertmaster (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Tom Pigott-Smith – concertmaster (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Peter Gregson – cello (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Vicky Matthews – cello (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Bruce White – viola (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Laurie Anderson – viola (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Rachel Robson – viola (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Ciaran McCabe – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • David Juritz – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Kate Robinson – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Laura Melhuish – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Marianna Haynes – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Nina Foster – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Patrick Kiernan – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Richard George – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Steve Morris – violin (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • James Greenwood – bass guitar, keyboards, programming, synthesizer (2, 9); piano (9)
  • Richard Jones – bass guitar (3, 8, 12), synthesizer (8), Moog bass (10)
  • Jon Shave – drums, percussion, programming, synthesizer (3, 6); bass guitar (6)
  • Uzoechi Emenike – background vocals (3)
  • Kid Harpoon – acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, drum programming, electric guitar, programming, synthesizer (4)
  • Duck Blackwell – guitar, keyboards, programming (7, 8, 11); drums (8)
  • Finn Keane – guitar, keyboards, programming (7, 11)
  • Richard "Biff" Stannard – background vocals, percussion (8)
  • Chris Greatti – guitar, synthesizer (8)
  • Shura – background vocals (8)
  • Brad Bowers – bass guitar (8)
  • Tom Arnold – concertmaster (10)
  • Ray Belli – drums (10)
  • Simon Byrt – synthesizer (10)
  • Luke Fitton – guitar, keyboards, programming (12)

Technical

[edit]
  • David Wrench – mixing (1–3, 5–12)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (4)
  • Matt Colton – mastering
  • Nick Wollage – engineering (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • James Greenwood – engineering (2, 9)
  • Brian Rajaratnam – engineering (4)
  • Kid Harpoon – engineering (4)
  • Duck Blackwell – engineering (8)
  • Gonzalo Barrera – engineering (8)
  • Luke Fitton – engineering (12)
  • Charlie Cook – vocal mixing (4)
  • Adam Loeffler – digital editing (8)
  • Jon Sims – engineering assistance (2, 5, 10, 11)
  • Sam Reid – engineering assistance (2, 5, 10, 11)

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Perimenopop
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[42] 90
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[43] 62
Scottish Albums (OCC)[44] 4
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 51
UK Albums (OCC)[46] 5

Release history

[edit]
Perimenopop release history
Region Date Format(s) Label Version Ref.
Various 12 September 2025
Standard [47]
United Kingdom
HMV exclusive [48]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ The CD edition features Ellis-Bextor's name and the album title in the upper left and right corner, respectively.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Murray, Robin (9 May 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Announces New Album Perimenopop". Clash. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  2. ^ https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/sophie-ellis-bextor-perimenopop/
  3. ^ https://weraveyou.com/2025/09/sophie-ellis-bextor-perimenopop-2/
  4. ^ Levine, Nick (9 May 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor announces new album Perimenopop". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Perimenopop review - reclaim refine". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  6. ^ Braithwaite, Andrew (12 September 2025). "Disco Balls and Mid-Life Magic: Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Perimenopop Arrives". Music Talkers - Latest Music News & Artist Exposure. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  7. ^ "The Renaissance Of Sophie Ellis-Bextor Continues With 80's Coded Disco Album 'Perimenopop'". Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  8. ^ Finney, Graham (9 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor 'Perimenopop' Album Review". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Ed Sheeran nets ninth Official Number 1 album with Play; JADE, Twenty One Pilots, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor debuts on Top 5". Official Charts. 19 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025. Sophie Ellis-Bextor celebrates her highest-charting LP in over a decade with Perimenopop (5). It's Sophie's sixth Top 10 album overall, now sitting alongside 2001 debut Read My Lips (2), 2007's Trip The Light Fantastic (7), 2014's Wanderlust (4), 2020 collection Songs From The Kitchen Disco (8) and 2023's HANA (8)
  10. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Continues Journey to 'The Invisible Line' Album with New Song – Culture Fix". Culture Fix. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  11. ^ Zellner, Xander (9 January 2024). "Hot 100 First-Timers: Sophie Ellis-Bextor Debuts With 'Murder on the Dancefloor' Thanks to 'Saltburn'". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Inside Sophie Ellis-Bextor's grand return to pop". Music Week. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  13. ^ McHugh, George (22 January 2024). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor signs with Universal for new music as Murder On The Dancefloor goes global". RETROPOP. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  14. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Pays Tribute to Iconic Hit in 'Freedom of the Night' Video | LBBOnline". lbbonline.com. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  15. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (15 August 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor On 'Murder on the Dancefloor' Craze and Why It Was 'Ballsy' To Name New Album 'Perimenopop'". Billboard. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Sophie Ellis-Bextor to 'flip the script' with new album". RTE. 4 July 2025.
  17. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Announces Eighth Studio Album 'Perimenopop' And Unveils New Single 'Taste'". www.xsnoize.com. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Announces Eighth Studio Album 'Perimenopop' And Unveils New Single 'Taste'". XSNOIZE. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  19. ^ Lassalle, Jade (22 May 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor celebrates getting older with 'Perimenopop'". Melodic Magazine.
  20. ^ https://www.melodicmag.com/news/sophie-ellis-bextor-celebrates-getting-older-with-perimenopop/
  21. ^ https://www.melodicmag.com/news/sophie-ellis-bextor-celebrates-getting-older-with-perimenopop/
  22. ^ a b "Album reviews: JADE – That's Showbiz Baby, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". The Independent. 12 September 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  23. ^ Carter, Daisy (31 March 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor dazzles on dancefloor-ready cut 'Relentless Love'". DIY. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  24. ^ Rogers, Mandy (2 May 2025). "Listen to "Vertigo" by Sophie Ellis-Bextor". EQ Music Blog. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  25. ^ Gotto, Connor (15 May 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor shares details of new album Perimenopop, drops single Taste". RETROPOP. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  26. ^ Forrest, Jo (25 July 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor shares new track 'Dolce Vita'". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  27. ^ Franco, Leila (13 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Shares New Single & Video "Stay On Me" -". mxdwn Music. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  28. ^ SEllisBextorVEVO (11 September 2025). Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Stay On Me (Official Music Video). Retrieved 12 September 2025 – via YouTube.
  29. ^ a b c "Perimenopop by Sophie Ellis-Bextor Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 3 October 2025. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  30. ^ Collar, Matt (26 September 2025). "Perimenopop - Sophie Ellis-Bextor". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  31. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". Clash Music. 14 September 2025. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  32. ^ Okechukwu, Nmesoma (14 September 2025). "Album review: Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". Euphoria. Magazine. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  33. ^ a b c White, Adam; O'Connor, Roisin (12 September 2025). "Album reviews: JADE – That's Showbiz Baby, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". The Independent. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  34. ^ Bardají, Jordi (18 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor / Perimenopop". Jenesaispop (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  35. ^ a b c d Harrison, Quentin (9 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Perimenopop review - reclaim refine". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  36. ^ Murphy, John (15 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". musicOMH. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  37. ^ a b c McIndoe, Joe (12 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor". Music-News.com. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  38. ^ a b c d Mohr, Christina (11 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". Musikexpress (in German). Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  39. ^ Finney, Graham (9 September 2025). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor 'Perimenopop' Album Review". TotalNtertainment. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  40. ^ Braithwaite, Andrew (12 September 2025). "Disco Balls and Mid-Life Magic: Sophie Ellis-Bextor's Perimenopop Arrives". Music Talkers - Latest Music News & Artist Exposure. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  41. ^ "Perimenopop / Sophie Ellis-Bextor / Credits". Tidal. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  42. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  43. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  44. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  45. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Perimenopop". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  46. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  47. ^ "Official Store - Shop Exclusive Music". Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  48. ^ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Perimenopop (hmv Exclusive) Alternative Artwork". HMV Store. Retrieved 11 September 2025.