by James Roberts

Frou Frou, the act comprising Madonna collaborator Guy Sigsworth and singer-songwriter Imogen Heap, have begun recording tracks for their debut album following their signing to Universal-Island at the end of last month.

The duo, who have known each other for several years but only recently formed as a group, are expecting to spend three months in their specially constructed west London studio developing their high end demos into masters for their debut album.

According to manager Mark Wood, who also manages Wildstar-signed Dum Dums and singer Fahan Hassan, early US reactions to Frou Frou have been strong, although the project is likely to assume a new name as it develops.

Sigsworth says, "The name is an issue in America because it seems effeminate, but I think the quirkiness of English music is what makes it interesting internationally."

One natural US partner could be MCA, which is part of Universal Island in the UK and with which Wood already has a strong relationship in the US following its signing of a North American deal with the Dum Dums earlier this year.

Sigsworth, who has just completed production duties on the third album for Fontana/Mercury act Lamb, first worked with Heap on her debut single "Getting Scared," which was included on her debut album for Almo Sounds, I Megaphone.  Although the album was well received in the US, Heap is better known in the UK for her collaboration with Urban Species on their 1998 single Blanket.  Following the demise of Almo Sounds earlier this year, Heap began looking for producers for her new project.  The first track Heap and Sigsworth recorded together is "Flicks," which couples an enchanting melody with ambient soundscape.

Explaining the development of the Frou Frou sound, Sigsworth says, "If you start with a perfect vocal like Imogen's, then the rest of the sounds fall into place naturally.  There will be a lot of familiar sounds on the album -- pianos and strings -- to make it more familiar to the listener.  I don't want to be restricted as to what sounds we use because an audience expects a perfect reproduction when played live.  Essentially our songs can be stripped back to the very basics."  Heap adds, "We are trying to find a way to make a laptop interesting onstage."

Long-time Bjork collaborator Sigsworth's profile has soared this year following his collaboration with Madonna on "What It Feels Like For A Girl," the next single from her album Music.