Who’d have thought back in the eighties that the two neon-clad stars battling for your attention would still be fighting it out in the charts over 20 years later?  Of the pair, Madonna undoubtedly scrapped the hardest to maintain her place in the spotlight, but whilst she may not be so au fait with publicity stunts as Ms Ritchie, Cyndi Lauper similarly refused to leave the stage.

Punky, colourful, New Yorker Lauper shot to fame with 1983’s She’s So Unusual, a global hit that spawned four top five singles including ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ and ‘Time After Time’. Often an inspiringly eccentric character, during the eighties the Chihuahua-clutching musician managed to both soundtrack the classic children’s film The Goonies and release a song about female masturbation.

Always outspoken, and a tireless champion of human rights, Cyndi draws a particularly faithful following from the gay crowd. During the years when celebrities ran a mile from anything even faintly queer, Cyndi was out at fundraisers and spreading a pro-tolerance message. Her songs have also touched on the private lives of drag queens, lesbian relationships and AIDS - hardly the lyrical repertoire of your average pop star.

A Pride veteran, it seems apt that Cyndi, now in her 50s, should return with a new album unashamedly packed full of dance tracks. Opener ‘High & Mighty’ is a high octane number, produced by Dutch house maestro Scumfrog. Its club-ready vibe leads nicely into the album’s first big hitter ‘Into The Nightlife’. Released as the album’s second single in the US, and already topping the dance charts, the warped gloss of ‘Into The Nightlife’ will power many a club floor until the summer dies.

The first four tracks on Bring Ya To The Brink are the strongest and benefit from energetic high profile collaborations. London’s own Basement Jaxx lend their heavier urban beats to ‘Rocking Chair’, a fun melodic tale of lust that has Cyndi almost getting away with a ridiculously silly semi-rapped section of “Rock me here, rock me there, rock me in my rocking chair”. Making up the strong song quartet are the insanely catchy Eurobeats of the melodic ‘Echo’, a pulsating euphoric slow burner that’s sure to feature in this year’s Wild Fruit tent.

There are a few dips in the mix. 'Lyfe' is a dated nu-flowing number that oozes nowhere, but throw in the stadium friendly, room-spinning sounds of first single ‘Same Old F***ing Story’ and Cyndi has herself a cohesive album to be proud of. Bring Ya To The Brink is a mish mash of dance styles blended smoothly together. And although it never quite delivers the orgasm it promises, at least Lauper herself sounds like she’s having a Disco ball.

2008 is proving a good year for iconic dance resurrections, and although as a grandmother Donna Summer may have gone one better in the headline stakes, Lauper’s mischievous release raises a few wry smiles. Adorning the album’s typically colourful front cover is an Explicit Lyrics warning sticker; at 55 Lauper’s rebellious streak is still live and kicking and you can’t help but respect that.

Read our interview with Cyndi Lauper and also our Dykon.

Bring Ya to the Brink, by Cyndi Lauper
Label: RCA
Released: 21 July 2008
ASIN: B001725ZB4

Buy Cyndi's new album, Bring Ya To The Brink, online now. You'll save money to put towards her Original Album Classics Box Set. You can also check out Cyndi performing 'Into the Nightlife' on Loose Women below!