Joss Stone - Colour Me Free

Rating:

* * *

Joss Stone is quite a confusing young lady. She is British. And rather pale. But she sings like an African-American soul sister - complete with that controversial accent.

Her fourth album

Colour Me Free

comes in a dull, childish case that you would not expect to stash her billowing voice.

Opener

Free Me

is frighteningly punchy, but with the addition of simple piano riffs, Stone's hoarse vocals turn more subtle soul diva on

Could Have Been You

and

4 and 20

.

The album features everyone from the Jeff Beck, Sheila E., Raphael Saadiq, and David Sanborn to the rapper Nas. It's all part of the Stone's latest puzzling package that straddles old-school brass jazz, filthy street hip-hop, and, unfortunately, the droning stuff of hotel lobbies.

At times, despite coming across as some non-conformist singer/actor, it seems Stone is trying to master a modern, grating, breathless style with layers of funk instrumental accompaniments that other artists have made popular recently.

She drops the funk act in

Stalemate

and

Girlfriend on Demand

- two slow, heartfelt tracks about being trodden on by men that give her vocal cords a good run around. They are more boring than beautiful, but hang on till the end, as Stone reaffirms that she is a headstrong woman in

Mr Wanker Man

- an honest, jazzy number that doesn't try to be something other people want.

Jacqueline Smith