Appleton

Following the break-up of All Saints in 2002, sisters Nicole and Natalie Appleton chose not to pursue solo careers. Instead, they joined forces and delivered the driving anthem Fantasy. Neither had been regarded as one of the principal vocalists in the group that had put them firmly on the musical map, yet the single proved there was far more to their voices than perhaps people had realised. It surged up the charts, peaking at #2.

Fast forward to February 2023 and the sisters were back in the singles chart with the sumptuous Don't Worry, soon followed by their debut album, Everything's Eventual, which reached a highly respectable #9. When the third single, Everything Eventually, couldn't replicate that success and stalled at #38, the duo parted company with Polydor and moved to Concept. But with All Saints reuniting in 2006, Appleton was put on hold.

Then, in 2025, Nicole's son Gene suggested that the pair head back into the studio. Viewing their children as their toughest critics, Nicole and Natalie decided they owed themselves another shot. Now, 23 years on from their debut album, that second chance has arrived in the shape of a brand-new four-track EP, Side By Side.

At just four tracks, Side By Side is very much an introduction to Appleton all over again, but it also serves as a timely reminder that this is a duo who should never have disappeared into the musical wilderness in the first place. With half the EP already out in the world, it's obvious that the appetite for their return was there. More importantly, it seems the music industry has also recognised that this frequently overlooked duo still have plenty of pop muscle between them.

In All Saints, Shaznay Lewis and Melanie Blatt were often the voices commanding centre stage, while Nicole and Natalie provided the killer harmonies and stepped forward with their own rich vocals when the songs called for it. That combination clearly worked for All Saints, but when those distinctive voices are given the room to stand on their own, they prove even more compelling.

Of course, having great voices is only part of the equation. The songs themselves have to be strong enough to carry a release, and Side By Side certainly delivers on that front. Four tracks may not sound like much, but every one feels purposeful. There is no padding here — these are four songs that pick up the thread where Everything's Eventual left off, and they are pure killer rather than filler.

Interestingly, Appleton have mirrored the approach they took with their debut when it comes to introducing this new chapter. They open with a feisty, forward-thinking pop anthem before following it with a lush ballad — although this time the emphasis is more on gorgeous harmonies and a beautifully judged mid-tempo feel. From there, they turn up the energy for the final two tracks.

Strange Kinda Paradise is crying out for A-list rotation across the major radio stations, while Monster brings the EP to a close with a wonderful contrast between its propulsive opening and the dreamier territory it moves into midway through.

Side By Side may well be Appleton's way of testing the waters, but here's hoping it doesn't take another 23 years before we get a full-length release. If this EP is anything to go by, there is still plenty more worth hearing from Nicole and Natalie.