(Vicious/FMR)

This is the follow-up to One of My Kind, the INXS-sampling dirty house masterpiece which thrust the Rogue Traders into the limelight earlier this year. Stay is a stark contrast to the sleaze of One of My Kind, this time trading the industrial vibe for a breezily melancholic mix of soaring guitar riffs and big choruses. It has undeniable radio potential, but is strong enough to survive the inevitable commercial radio flogging.

Vicious are trying a new marketing tack with this release, offering two formats. There is the garden variety single, and also a 6 track maxi-single, with the same bunch of remixes as the 12” release. Also included on the maxi-single is the very tasty Phunk remix of One of My Kind, a techy, hard-edged romp which is worth the extra cash alone.

If the stylistically different but equally impressive first two singles from the Rogue Traders are anything to go by, their forthcoming album We Know What You’re Up To is sure to impress.