Britain's has the voice, the talent, and the presence of a star. With the husk of , the vulnerability of , the rasp of , the melancholy of , the emotional timbre of , the dramatic appeal of , and the resignation of -- too many cigarettes, too much booze, too many disappointments -- 's voice is confessional without being self-pitying, strong while still being warm, confrontational while simultaneously asking for compassion. She faces you with her experience and offers no apologies. A born storyteller, her voice conveys tales most people don't have the imagination to imagine. , her debut, is a journey, emotionally and aurally. Each cut takes a moment to grab you, but just as you're reaching to hit rewind because you have got to hear that last song one more time, the next track grips you and you can't change it. Despite the coldness of some techno touches (the captivating could be a big dance anthem, and is like a techno/lounge march), there is something innately human about the entire album -- vocals, lyrics, and production. Something of a torch singer, goes from tough to tender to romantic and then she turns it all around to find something nostalgic and evocative in the simplicity of the melodies of and This is a solid, confident debut that will be difficult to follow up, but will not be a one-hit wonder; this album is testament to that. ~ Bryan Buss