Unlike many other girls groups and boy bands, the British Sugababes not by auditions or by managers brought together. They met in high school and became friends through their common love of music, singing and dancing. Their promising debut One Touch (2001) featured with Run For Cover and (especially) Overload two strong singles. In the time between that first cd and the successor Angels With Dirty Faces, however, there has been a change in the occupation. The blonde singer Siobhan Donaghy left and replaced by Heidi Range, that short time was part of Atomic Kitten (in the period that Atomic Kitten had no recording contract). The songs of Sugababes are generally just slightly better and spicier than that of a typical music chart-act. It is a sophisticated blend of trendy styles like R&B, hip hop, 2-step, house and pop. Also on Angels With Dirty Faces have the ladies weather good for each other. The album starts off very strong with the singles Round And Round and Freak Like Me. This last number is a crossover between genius Freak Like Me (Adina Howard) and Are Friends Electric (Gary Numan Tubeway army Army). Other highlights include the funky Switch, the exciting Virgin Sexy and Shape, which is based on the Sting Shape Of My Heart and number in which the voice of that same Sting sampled.

Nice album, best Sugababes formation. Stronger & Shape are gems. Lovely.