| COLIN SOMERVILLE IMOGEN HEAP - Speak For Yourself For years there has been a serious dearth of quality and depth from female singer songwriters in this country. Annie Lennox proved at both Live 8 concerts that she still possesses the charisma and ability to remain the exception. Compared to her crispy rocket salad, those who have emerged since are so much simpering limp lettuce. Imogen Heap made her debut album seven years ago at the age of 18, before finding greater success as one half of the duo Frou Frou, striking a chord with the new sensitive American teens who imagine life is like Dawson's Creek and The O.C. Speak For Yourself is all her own work, writing and producing the whole shebang in her London studio. You may have already thrilled to the first single 'Hide And Seek', in which Immi manages to sound like an unconscionable hybrid of Laurie Anderson and Judy Tzuke, wringing computerised angst from every note. It is all thoroughly modern Immi, stylish without lacking soul, and in 'Daylight Robbery' she may have produced one of the best tunes of the summer. Great hook, lovely layered production and passionate vocal delivery. 'I Am In Love With You' is blessed with a minimalist swagger, and 'The Moment I Said It' an assertively ambient closer. In this form Heap certainly has the edge on her contemporaries. Now, whatever happened to that new Kate Bush album? |