Gretchen Lieberum: Brand New Morning

By GRAHAM REID

(Herald rating: * * * *)

Pity poor Gretchen: young, slim, attractive and blonde — and already labelled with that kiss of death, "The next Norah Jones".

Musically she's quite unlike Jones but what they mean is she could sell mega. Or not. Poor Gretchen. This second album — with gentle scratching from Cut Chemist of Jurassic 5, Latin percussion and Feliciano guitar, evocative Pan flute and moody cello — sees her as a sultry nightclub chanteuse.

These are jazzy, sometimes fragile torch songs with a pepperpot of lightly swinging Latin ballads, literate lyrics, a delicious electronica-influenced cover of the Police's The Bed's Too Big Without You, and clubland moods.

If you liked Norah Jones you will find a similar low-lights mood and atmosphere here but this has a mysterious trip-hop quality which places her closer to Goldfrapp, or a white Nina Simone-influenced folkie fronting a more cheerful Portishead. However, drop all such comparisons. Not the next Norah, the first Gretchen.

Label: Lakeshore