Is Paloma Faith a genuine musical talent, or mere dilettante? At times, it’s hard to tell. Certainly there is an element of role-playing to this, her first extended appearance on the musical stage. An actress, trained contemporary dancer, former burlesque performer and ex-magician’s assistant, Faith acknowledges her shape-shifting nature on album opener, and former single, ‘Stone Cold Sober’ – “I’m a chameleon I’m always in disguise,” she tells us.
All manner of delights are conjured up on a debut whose vivacious, big band pop will leave the listener as giddy as a kid in a bumper cars. Alas, Faith too often comes across as something of a Winehouse wannabe. Just listen to ‘My Legs Are Weak’ for the best example of her alt-Amy style. Still, this bluesy holler makes a fine vehicle for songs such as ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ and the title cut, with both tracks telling of love’s deceitful ways.
Each lament, no matter how glum, is delivered with gusto and a fair smattering of theatre, be it the swooning ‘Romance Is Dead’, or the plea for emotional redemption that is ‘Broken Doll’. There are missteps, though. ‘Stargazer’ is all too schmaltzy, ‘New York’ a little hammy. In the main, however, Paloma plays her part with conviction.