What makes Bizarre Fruit II by M People notable?

This album peaked at number one on the UK Albums Chart and received a nomination for Best British Dance Act at the 1996 BRIT Awards. It solidified M People's reputation for crafting dance anthems that fused pop sensibilities with club culture, influencing many artists within the genre. Bizarre Fruit II is M People’s third studio album, following their successful release of Elegant Slumming in 1993. By 1995, the band had solidified their presence in the UK dance-pop scene, building on their previous commercial success and critical acclaim, which set a strong foundation for this energetic follow-up.

Who is Bizarre Fruit II for?

Bizarre Fruit II works well if you're into dynamic flow with vibrant peaks, danceable grooves for social settings and uplifting melodies for feel-good vibes.

How many songs are on Bizarre Fruit II?

Bizarre Fruit II has 21 tracks, running approximately 131 minutes.

Bizarre Fruit II

M People · 1995

131 min · 21 tracks · dance-pop

A vibrant blend of soulful vocals and infectious dance rhythms that capture the spirit of 90s club culture.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Search for the Hero — This track showcases uplifting lyrics paired with a catchy melody that exemplifies M People's signature sound, making it a defining anthem of the era.
→
Open Your Heart — The song combines heartfelt lyrics with pulsating beats, reflecting themes of vulnerability and hope, which resonate throughout the album.
→
Itchycoo Park — A bold cover that reinterprets a classic song, blending nostalgia with contemporary dance elements, demonstrating M People’s ability to innovate while honoring musical history.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

45 /100

Lowland

Higher than 5% of albums we've rated

The album captures the essence of 90s dance-pop but lacks strong cohesion due to its remix-heavy ending.

What we noticed

The first five tracks maintain a consistent upbeat tempo, establishing a danceable energy that characterizes the album.
Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and call-and-response sections, enhancing the communal feel of the music.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic flow with vibrant peaks
danceable grooves for social settings
uplifting melodies for feel-good vibes
live mixes energizing the experience
for celebratory moments

Maybe skip if you

seeking quiet introspective moments
prefer straightforward single tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album solidified M People's reputation in the UK dance-pop scene.
Career context: Bizarre Fruit II is M People’s third studio album, following their successful release of Elegant Slumming in 1993. By 1995, the band had solidified their presence in the UK dance-pop scene, building on their previous commercial success and critical acclaim, which set a strong foundation for this energetic follow-up.
Stylistic neighbors: Basement Jaxx· Moloko· Soul II Soul