Friendship CD

According to Catz 'N' Dogs, their new album "Friendship" was inspired by the role friends, collaborators and partners have played in their runaway success. There's certainly a warm, fuzzy and loved-up feel throughout, with the pair making great use of some top-drawer guest vocalists and collaborators (see James Yuill's fine vocals on deep breakbeat-pop jam "There", the deep house/two-step garage fusion of Zensofly and Maxville hook-up "Wave" and the sun-kissed indie-dance shimmer of WhoMadeWho collaboration "Never Go Down"). Intriguingly, there are just as many sofa-bound sound diversions (skewed hip-hop, downtempo pop and so on) as riotous dancefloor excursions (the piano-happy "New Love" being the standout), making for an accessible and hugely entertaining set that rewards repeat listens.