When Pet Shop Boy Neil Tennant announced that he was going to be an 'executive producer' on the new Rufus Wainwright album, it was an intriguing, if not slightly worrying development. On one hand, Tennant is a pop genius in his own right, an intelligent and creative musical force; on the other hand, does Wainwright really need any more camping-up?! Thankfully, Tennant seems to have merely lent his watchful eye and quality control to proceedings on Release the Stars; far from being influenced by anyone else's input, this is Wainwright's beast alone. Employing the same 'popera' approach that he's perfected (and invented) over his past two albums - the superlative Want One and Want Two - his fifth opus is a gorgeous sliver of grandiose pop, heart-rending ballads and operatic instrumentation, all delivered in that unique, spread-eagled drawl. In fact, Wainwright could probably have called this 'Want Three' if he'd wanted to, as it's a natural progression to the series. Opener Do I Disappoint You's nonchalant air over that aforementioned operatic, multi-coloured soundtrack is classic Rufus and mirror's Want One's 'Dinner at 8' ('Do I disappoint you in just being human?'), Going To A Town is a luscious mid-paced piano ballad that could have been written by Tapestry-era Carole King, as is the meandering, heavily string-saturated Nobody's Off the Hook. The latter half of the album sees yet more diversity; Between My Legs is a rollicking, uptempo rock stomper with an overblown finale that would turn even Elton John green, Tulsa's baroque pop, carried upon layers of violin, was apparently inspired by a meeting with Killers frontman Brandon Flowers ('Your suit was the whitest thing since you-know-who') and the swinging, sexy Sanssouci could soundtrack a summer cafe scene from any arty European flick. The title track draws matters to a suitable close; it's a euphoric, heart-bursting explosion that, like Want One's 14th Street, builds and builds to a climactic, big band close. It may not be as immediate as its predecessors, but Release the Stars is nonetheless dazzling proof of Rufus Wainwright's simply astronomical talent.