Tara Blaise’s 2004 debut album, Dancing Barefoot On Tables, garnered much attention – even landing her an all-important BBC Radio 2 play-listing. She has since made quite a name for herself in the UK thanks to touring with Michael Ball and appearing in the London stage production of War Of The Worlds. This follow-up from the former Wilde Oscars and Kaydee vocalist covers much of the same territory with a fine collection of exquisitely produced pop gems.
The variety of styles on offer here is breathtaking: Madonna would be more than happy to have a song like the quirky ‘Make You’ at her disposal while the Cardigans-like ‘Taller On The Phone’ boasts an adventurous setting with a guitar edge and a snare-drum backbeat.
Meanwhile, the dramatic power ballad ‘Breathe’ is as good a mainstream pop tune as you’ll hear all year, while the similarly-paced ‘Secret Garden Party’ is equally memorable and hook-laden.
Elsewhere ‘Rosalie’ (not the Bob Seger number of the same name as once covered by Thin Lizzy) is another up-tempo winner, on which she sounds a tad like Chrissie Hynde. Given the title and the dramatic string arrangement, ‘New Red Shoes’ may or may not be an off-handed tribute to Kate Bush but it’s a great song nonetheless.
There’s something very continental about Blaise – this is the sort of high-class pop you hear on French radio all the time and so it could be huge there. But she deserves success at home too for this very fine record.

Key Track: ‘Make You’