In March, we took this photo on the London Underground.
On one side was a poster for Katy B's just released, mostly brilliant new album. On the other side was a poster for Kylie Minogue's just released, mostly-brilliant new album. Equal billing for two contrasting popstars.
At the time we were struck by a number of thoughts.
We wondered if either album — or both albums — would do better if the two artists swapped songs.
We wondered what impact both these albums would have on the artists' respective careers: would they maintain an existing level of success, prompt a sharp upturn, or — regardless of how good the music was — prove to be part of a longterm decline?
We pondered the way 'Little Red' would increase Katy's prominence on Radio 1's daytime shows, and we pondered the way 'Kiss Me Once' would cement Kylie's move to Radio 2.
We wondered which poster a pissed-up office wanker would be most likely to do a piss over on his way home.
We thought about the function of these albums; did Katy's exist to sell albums, and was Kylie's there to sell concert tickets?
We considered which was most likely to be talked about in ten years, and we wondered which was most likely to be talked about in ten months.
We wondered what sort of music Kylie would make if she'd left a soap opera in 2014, and we wondered what sort of music Katy would make if she emerged from the club scene in 1987.
We thought about all that stuff, and then we realised we'd missed the last tube.
