Stephanie Kirkham: That Girl

Reviewed by GRAHAM REID

Herald rating: * * *

Another grown woman who sings like a child, dresses like a fairy (sorry, "fairie") but uses words like "dysfunctional" in her lyrics? So what sets this one apart — aside from a hippie-like career in stained-glass restoration, window dressing, painting and floristry? Not a lot, but England's Kirkham delivers her winsome folk-pop with some charm and is best defined by what she's not: she's not gutsy with an attitude, remotely rocking, cynical or, unfortunately, especially interesting.

She wants to be rescued from the shop by a boy of her dreams, and Heavy Boots isn't a nod to skinheads but to weigh her down because she feels light inside thanks to the man who is her favourite daydream. The single Inappropriate sounds like a bubblegum version of a Sundays' song. But it's all perfectly guileless, harmless and boasts nice production.

So truly she will be a star for those who want their folk-pop with a touch of McCartney-lite fairydust thrown over it. In other words those who find Avril Lavigne too difficult.

(Virgin)