Beyonce: Dangerously In Love

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating * * *)

There's something a bit Bachelorette about the solo debut of Destiny's Child star Ms Knowles.

Her chap, rapper Jay-Z is the most frequent guest on the 16 tracks, although the album's other gentlemen callers include Big Boi (of Outkast), ragga-man Sean Paul, and soul veteran Luther Vandross on a version of The Closer I Get To You which, unfortunately, risks one wondering whether it was recorded before or after his health gave out.

And to finish, on an unnamed hidden track there's a terribly icky ode to her father and Destiny's Child manager Matthew Knowles who's listed as "executive producer" on this. "That's why I want my unborn son to be like my daddy, that's why I want my husband to be like my daddy ... " sings the dutiful daughter on a song of no discernible tune but plenty of diva vocal gymnastics.

Fortunately, there's enough that precedes it that's up to the standard of Destiny's Child terrific singles to make this worthwhile. Among them are lead track Crazy in Love with its brazen and brassy Bollywood-bent pop stomp; the twitchy funk, Arabic strings and Donna Summer-steal (it lifts from Love to Love You Baby) of Naughty Girl; the dancehall-gone-Eastern of Baby Boy (the Sean Paul track); Hip-Hop Star which despite its name has some very rock'n'roll heavy breathing.

Unfortunately, the excitement dips when the songs head towards the boudoir ballads - pinching the tune of Strawberry Letter 23 can't help Be With You - as it does for most of the album's slow-moving middle.

But Signs with Missy Elliot is amusing for revival of that ever-entertaining genre, astrologically themed soul songs. And her Austin Powers single Work It Out (included near the end is still one fine 70s funk pastiche.

But it still feels like only half an album. Dangerously in Love starts off with a rush of great pop and enough sassy vitality to show something akin to artistic maturity is in the offing. But long before she starts singing sweet nothings to Daddy, Dangerously In Love just gets too safe for its own good.

Label: Columbia