Spring has arrived and the new album from Brazilian funsters Cansei de Ser Sexy has followed in its steps with the same radiant, fluffy, happy paddocks full of bounding baby lambs kind of vibe. Three albums in the exuberant group, known simply as CSS, still have a spring in their step and the bounce is catchy. And after a drought of quality alternative, fun, queer-friendly music following years of infinite quality, we're lapping it up. Formed in 2003 by producer/musician Adriano Cintra and a group of smoking hot female friends, CSS were originally supposed to be a joke. Three albums on people may still be laughing at their lyrics but not their success. CSS have won fans across the globe with their sexy, fun brand of new wave and their sexy fun female cast of Lovefoxx, Luiza Sá, Ana Rezende and Carolina Parr – and they have packed out shows every time they have come to New Zealand. The name Cansei de Ser Sexy was infamously taken from a Beyonce quote and translates to 'got tired of being sexy'. Like most things with the band, it's a bilingual piss-take. While not a 'gay band' there are gay members in CSS and they are incredibly pro-gay in a painstakingly non-PC kind of way. Early tracks Music Is My Hot Hot Sex and Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above remain DJ and party staples and if you haven't heard them yet, their first album is something no CD rack or iTunes collection should be without. While it sadly doesn't match their giddy thrust of their debut and you won't have to fear blowing the bass out of your speakers, their new effort La Liberacion shows a band that have moved beyond the electro they rocked before every pop star and their producer jumped on the bandwagon. Throwing in piano ballads and even some reggae, the album hits its highest points on Hits Me Like a Rock and the Calypso-inspired Echo of Love, while City Grrl has all the makings of an anthem for women who want to go out in short skirts and pick up whoever they want, just for the night. Adriano Cintra explains La Liberacion: "People should liberate themselves. When we came to this title we got so high, it made perfect sense with the lyrics and the feeling we were getting. FUCK EVERYTHING. Let's get undressed and listen to CSS. Let's step out of the closet. Let's paint our teeth black." The reviews for their third album may be a little tough so far, but we like it and are confident you will too. With a final track with a name like Fuck Everything, we don't think the band will be too bothered either. Jacqui Stanford - 10th September 2011