AMAZINGLY, for all the years that Blondie has been active, Panic Of Girls is only the band’s ninth studio album.

But, this much-anticipated release is a corker.

The album is available in three formats: as a download (from May 30th), as a physical eleven-track CD (from July 4th), and again from May 30th, as part of an exclusive Collector’s Fan Pack.

This last version is really the one to get for any number of reasons.

Firstly, it’s out earlier, also it’s available in over 3000 non-traditional music retail outlets such as Asda, Tesco and W H Smiths to name but three.

With this special pack – released as a collaboration with Future Publishing – there is a double-sided poster, four postcards featuring pictures of Debbie Harry taken by Chris Stein, six button badges and…. A 132 page magazine about the history of the band, the new album and with interviews with all band members.

Oh yes, the CD with the Fanpack has two extra tracks.

The album itself encapsulates the legendary sound and character of Blondie and includes tracks destined to become true Blondie classics.

The single Mother is a slice of electro-pop that conjures up images of the nightclub after which it is named – it also immediately went on Radio 2’s playlist.

The reggae intro to Sunday Smile evokes memories of The Tide Is High, and Debbie Harry dusts off the French phrasebook with Le Bleu.

The excellent bonus tracks are Horizontal Twist and Mirame.

The band still has the core of Debbie, Chris Stein and Clem Burke along with Leigh Foxx, Matt Katz-Bohen, Tommy Kessler and Paul Carbonara (who has since left the band).

Produced by Jeff Saltzman (The Killers) and Kato Khandwala (My Chemical Romance), this album proves that there’s life still lurking in those blonde roots.