Katie Melua: Call off the Search

Reviewed by REBECCA BARRY

Herald rating * * *

British jazz singer Katie Melua is used to comparisons with Norah Jones - both have enjoyed huge success for their easy-listening crossover appeal, with Melua's album selling over a million copies in Britain alone.

But whereas Jones' smoky voice breezes through her songs, Melua sounds like the missing link between Edith Piaf and Kylie Minogue - a girly lilt that quavers, croons, croaks and milks the long notes until they're saturated in sentiment.

Her style does get a bit much, a problem exacerbated by this somewhat bland, slow collection of jazz-lite, blues and folksy pop.

First single The Closest Thing to Crazy is one of the more interesting heart-wrenchers and it's not hard to imagine her batting her eyelids seductively on Crawling Up A Hill.

Elsewhere though it gets drippy where it should be dreamy (Faraway Voice) and silly where it should be quirky (Belfast - Penguins and Cats). A huge talent who needs a huge hit.