Review: Mari Wilson – Girl About Town
Mari Wilson combines pop, soul, jazz and disco on ‘Girl About Town’, delivering ten colourful and highly infectious songs
Mari Wilson – Girl About Town
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: Beehive Records
Release date: September 4, 2026
Text: Henk Hekkelman
Mari Wilson rose to prominence in the early 1980s with her striking beehive hairstyle, her backing band The Wilsations and the hit Just What I Always Wanted. More than four decades later, ‘Girl About Town’ shows that her love of melodic pop and soul remains very much alive.
The album contains ten original songs written by Wilson together with her long-time musical partner Adrian York. Her warm, relaxed voice provides the common thread throughout a record filled with references to sixties pop, Philadelphia soul, disco and British eighties pop.
Good News opens the album with a slightly melancholic verse, but soon develops into an uplifting soul-pop song. Piano, bells, brass and backing vocals create a full sound, while Wilson’s distinctive voice effortlessly holds its own. It is a strong and, above all, positive opening.
The gentle soul ballad Love Letter follows. Its warm keyboards, strings and subtle guitar recall classic Philadelphia soul. Wilson sings with restraint and intimacy, ensuring that the song never becomes overly sentimental.
Lost On The Dancefloor takes us back to London’s club scene of the 1980s. Wilson sings about her memories of the Camden Palace, accompanied by a driving bass line, piano, tight drums and sparkling disco accents. The chorus is immediate and infectious, but the song never turns into a cheap exercise in nostalgia.
Man About Town sounds light, playful and jazzy. Wilson’s delivery is almost conversational, demonstrating that alongside her excellent voice, she also possesses a strong sense of timing. The understated Because Of You then reveals her more vulnerable side. The arrangement remains beautifully spacious, giving her voice plenty of room.
Mari Wilson: Credit Claire Lawrie
The mood becomes darker with Spellbound. Its production includes psychedelic and almost cinematic touches, making it noticeably different from the soul-pop that opens the album. This change of atmosphere gives the record some welcome additional colour at exactly the right moment.
The rhythm returns on We Got Something, an enjoyable, grooving soul song with a catchy chorus and excellent backing vocals. It is one of the tracks that stays with you immediately. On Kaleidoscope, pop, soul and psychedelic sounds tumble colourfully over one another. Despite all the details, the song remains melodic and easy to follow.
One of the album’s most charming songs is Tomatoes In The Fridge. Wilson uses a minor domestic annoyance to sing about the differences and individual habits within a relationship. The song is light-hearted and witty, but never becomes silly.
Closing track Come On Out brings the album back to the uplifting atmosphere of its opening. Soulful backing vocals and an open, inviting chorus provide a warm and fitting conclusion.
‘Girl About Town’ sounds polished without becoming slick. The arrangements contain plenty of detail, while always leaving enough space for Wilson’s voice. Not every song is equally immediate, but genuine weak moments are difficult to find. Some of the melodies also need a few listens before they fully reveal themselves.
Mari Wilson does not attempt to recreate her major success from the 1980s. Instead, she uses her past as the starting point for a mature album that sounds joyful, stylish and personal. Her warm voice, sense of humour and love of strong melodies remain completely intact.
‘Girl About Town’ is therefore much more than a nostalgic return. It is a highly successful and versatile album from a singer who still knows exactly how a good pop or soul song should sound.
Tracks:
01. Good News
02. Love Letter
03. Lost On The Dancefloor
04. Man About Town
05. Because Of You
06. Spellbound
07. We Got Something
08. Kaleidoscope
09. Tomatoes In The Fridge
10. Come On Out
https://www.mariwilson.co.uk/
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