:: Natasha Bedingfield - N.B.

Natasha Bedingfield

The UK-based singer made her presence felt three years ago, especially in the USA with hr debut album. She returns with a well produced set of tracks and gives good value with seventeen pop/hip-hop tracks. A good team of collaborators ensure a healthy dose of honesty and love themes. Natasha has definitely grown as an artist. She can do the beautiful ballad justice as proven by the almost poetic ‘Backyard’ which soothes. ‘Tricky Angel’ has some great harmonising also but her voice does evolve into a squeak at times. Perhaps the songwriting strength needs to be a bit more consistent and meaty. Notable tracks include “Who Knows”, with a reggae-pop vibe to start with, and a middle section that consists of a more electro-style sound, and then a chorus of violins join in… a good example of something that requires more than one listen. Then you might get a hint of Joss Stone, a smattering of Amy Winehouse and a touch of Lily Allen - maybe a bit too much to take at once. It would be terrific if she can find her place and move forward on that line. However, she is very good and the positives outweigh the negatives.