Shaznay Lewis: Open

By REBECCA BARRY

(Herald rating: * * * )

As chief songwriter and owner of the most interesting voice in the All Saints, it was only a matter of time before Shaznay Lewis embarked on a solo career. Okay, so it took her four years - apparently there are a few confidence issues to get over in order to write for one voice rather than four. But she survived the risky hiatus with an album that should keep radio programmers happy and the Appleton sisters on edge.

Working with cutting-edge producers including Basement Jaxx and Primal Scream didn't dent the All Saints formula - the beats are still slick'n' sexy, and Lewis' eternally girly voice coos with that occasionally irritating sugary vibrato.

But it's the range of styles that keeps things interesting, from the fruity 60s swing of Dance to the quirky dancehall of Mr Dawg and the instantly likeable first single I Never Felt Like This Before.

Perhaps it's just the disposable nature of pop - there's nothing particularly fulfilling or groundbreaking about her music, a point Lewis sums up on Radio: "The song won't make you stay."

Still, her debut solo effort is a harmless pop confection that's as likely to keep a girls' night on the tiles as a tweenage sleepover going till 2am.

Label: London