Midland Vibes

Appleton Side By Side

Tracks: Ready To Begin, Falling Into You, Strange Kinda Paradise, Monster

Label: Appleton Recordings

Back in 2002, after the dissolution of All Saints, sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton decided not to take the solo route. Instead, they paired up and released the driven anthem Fantasy. Despite not being known as the core vocalists in the band that established them on the musical map, the single showcased that they could indeed sing, and it romped up the charts to #2. By February 2023 they were back in the singles charts with the lush Don't Worry, followed swiftly by their debut album, Everything's Eventual, which charted at a very respectable #9. However, when their third single, Everything Eventually, failed to reach those upper echelons of the charts – it reached #38 – the duet left Polydor for Concept. However, All Saints reunited in 2006, and their duo was shelved. That was until 2025, when Nicole's son Gene suggested the pair returned to the studio. Seeing their children as their harshest critics, they felt they needed to give themselves a second chance, and now 23 years after their debut album, an EP of new material lands – Side By Side.

Only four tracks in length, Side By Side is a reintroduction to the pair, but one that really demonstrates that they are a group that should never have got lost in the musical wilderness. With half of the EP already released, it is clear that not only were the fans ready for their return, but also that the industry knew that this often sidelined duo had more than a little pop punch between them. While in All Saints, Shaznay Lewis and Melanie Blatt took centre stage, Appleton supported them with killer harmonies and rich solo vocals when required. The formula worked for All Saints, but when those striking vocals are allowed to shine in their own light, they shine even brighter.

However, music is not just about the voice – you need the songs to allow an EP to shine. Side By Side may only be four songs in length, but these four songs pick up exactly where Everything's Eventual left off and are pure killers, not filler.

Interestingly, Appleton followed the same pattern as their debut release for the singles of this return. Feisty, forward-thinking pop anthem as the debut, followed by a lush ballad (although this time around it's more of a gorgeous harmony-centred mid-tempo); however, they finish the EP off with two stompers. Strange Kinda Paradise deserves an A-list on all major radio stations, while Monster closes off the set with beautiful juxtaposition from its driven start to its dreamy middle.

Side By Side may be a release to test the waters, so let's hope that it is not another 23 years to get a full-length release from Appleton.