Lenka

There has been a production line of Australian actresses turning to singing over the years. We've had Kylie and Natalie and Delta and now we've got Lenka Kripac. Lenka is a singer-songwriter and all her songs on this debut have been self-penned. Her style can be best described as naive waif meets kooky and her ditties have an endearing charm and simplicity about them.

The album opener 'The Show' with Lenka's little-girl-lost shtick and pop sensibility "Make it stop, Or else my heart is going to pop" laced with dum-de-dums makes for a rousing and accomplished start. Second up is 'Bring Me Down' tells a tale of doomed contemporary love - think Lily Allen without the profanity or double-entendre - yet still manages to shoe-horn in a chirpy whistling solo. Sounds like the arranger was paid per musical insertion.

'Skipalong' belies its jaunty title - an angst-ridden slow-burner lamenting a meandering relationship. 'Don't Let Me Fall' and 'Anything I'm Not' represent a mid-album lull in proceedings, but thankfully 'Knock Knock' breathes some fresh life into a rapidly deteriorating situation. 'Dangerous And Sweet' with its brass section could have its provenance somewhere adjacent to Herb Alpert, whilst 'Trouble is a Friend' sounds like potential chart material with its brash and breezy cadence.

'Live Like You're Dying' slows the pace and cuts the melody; 'Like a Song' continues this downward spiral; the finishing track 'We Will Not Grow Old' attempts to redress the balance with high-spirited emotion and gaiety.

The problem with this album is its mediocrity. It is inoffensive yet bland. It fails to ignite despite presenting a few smoulderings. The talent is there but requiring more judicious pruning.