Madonna has long been known as the Material Girl. But we're crowning the Queen of Pop the queen of new material judging by her forthcoming album Hard Candy. It's not due out until April 28 but Rated can bring you a world exclusive preview. And Madonna has pulled it out of the bag again. She has worked with the hottest songwriters and producers in the world, including Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, to achieve a bang up-to-date dance sound. Her last album Confessions On A Dance Floor in 2005 was filled with great disco classics such as Hung Up. Madonna 49, now takes that to the next level with the first single, 4 minutes, setting the tone for the album's fresh flavour. Producer Timbaland, who co-wrote the song with Madonna, raps over a pounding hip-hop drumbeat about the world "running out of time." And she can't even be heard until 53 seconds in-when she yells: "Are you ready to go?" Packing an incredible amount of hooks into, yes, exactly four minutes, Madonna even repeats the "Tick tock tick tock" refrain from Hung Up. The single gets it's Radio One play on March 25, and can be dowloaded a day later. It'll be a miracle if it isn't No. 1 that week. But if this is a great single, the it's likely follow-up is even better. Give It 2 Me is produced buy The Neptunes-aka Chad Hugo and R&B singer Pharrell Williams, who co-writes half of the album. It's a sensational mix of classic Madonna pop with darker, 100mph hip-hop beats. It's infectious and single good enough to rival anything from Madonna's career as she sings "No one's going to stop me now." We don't doubt it. There's a squelchy keyboard riff that indie darlings Kasabian would kill for, and a mad, brilliant moment halfway through when it suddenly stops for what sounds like a thousand doorbells going off at once. "Give me a record and i'll break it," teases Madonna, and this sets the stage for 2008's hottest song so far. The Neptunes also produce Candy Shop and Heartbeat. Many of the lyrics are about Madonna's love of dance music, but Candy Shop is a cheeky sweet-as-sex pop song reminiscent of Madonna's old hit Ray Of Light. Heartbeat, the other song Rated heard at a secret playback, is another magnificent club anthem. Madonna teasing: "See my booty get down" was the only duff bit, but it's rescued by yet another burst of military percussion and a sweet moment when she sings: "When I dance I feel free." The rest of the 12-song album includes a cameo from rap superstar Kanye West and a pair of slower songs to allow listeners to catch their breath. Madonna may turn 50 in August but Hard Candy is more like an amazing debut album, as hot as anything young pretenders such as Rihanna or Robyn can create. And the songs will be incredible to dance to when Madonna tours. Please can you announce some gigs soon, your Madge-sty?

Source: newsoftheworld (found on ICON board)