Reviewed by Tony Cummings

So much has happened since X Factor brought Rebecca to national consciousness and by no means has all of it been good. A break from her management, relationship difficulties and a battle with depression have all taken their toll on the 27 year old Liverpudlian. So it is hugely impressive that the singer has returned with an album every bit as excellent as her 'Heaven' million-seller. For me the absolute killer is her hit single "I Hope", with a haunting vocal sample giving the track the same kind of spacey club feel that Moby used to engender and the title repeated in impacting chorus surges. With both these elements the song, which one reviewer described as "a kiss-off to an abusive lover conveyed with a surprising tenderness", is truly stunning. There are some Massive Attack-style beats on "We'll Be Fine" while the memorable "My Best" has a lyric boldly declaring a determination to build a better life as the singer realises "you're at your best when there's nothing else left." Other cuts you're going to hear on Cross Rhythms radio in the months ahead are "Beautiful Design" and "Freedom". You could give one black mark for the use of a minor expletive on "Fake Smile" but all in all, this is another masterly set from surely the most gifted singer/songwriter on Britain's R&B scene. This Deluxe version contains four live tracks, cut at Air Studios. Suffice to say that none are as good as the studio originals.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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