(Warner)

Besides throwing herself wholeheartedly into the debate “should an age limit be imposed upon skin-tight pink leotards” (you must have seen that film clip by now?), Madonna has gotten around to releasing a follow up to ‘Hung Up’ in the form of a middle of the road dance floor number ‘Sorry’.

This is inoffensive pop and nothing more. The vocal is catchy enough, though the groove isn’t especially body moving – it’s unremarkable to the point that one finds no need to be overly critical. It’s Madonna, it’s pop, it’ll sell a gazillion copies as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow. Accept it.

If there is any scorn to be distributed it must be saved for the remix artists on this ‘Deluxe Double 12” package’. Paul Oakenfold (Poor bugger can’t seem to get away with anything) turns in an utterly soulless mix, Man With Guitar and the Pet Shop Boys remixes sound the same, and even Green Velvet turns in a pretty average effort which is overwhelmingly paint-by-numbers bleeps and grinds.

Unfortunately you really do get the feeling with this package that the remix artists were trying so hard to make sure Madonna herself liked their tracks that they were too afraid to try anything even remotely different or original in fear if jeopardising their royalty cheques.

All in all an inoffensive, paint by numbers remix package which comes up on the bland side. For fans only.