Kaleidoscope

By now you will have heard 'Caught Out There', the first single taken from this 20-year-old American's first album. The 'I Hate You So Much Right Now' hook is becoming the girly anthem for summer's dancefloors.

While so much of commercial R'n'B is sanitised and ultimately lightweight, Kelis, (pronounced Kuh-Lease), brings a fine melodic touch to the medium, a cross between garage house and a more rootsy R'n'B feel.

The influences are surprising in one so young: '70s disco ` la Gladys Knight, ragged reggae grooves and a powerful soul influence that's reminiscent of Aretha. Yes, it's that good.

As well as the powerful emotional content, Kelis is blessed with a sense of humour, displayed on numbers like 'Game Show' and 'Good Stuff', where she plays with the homey vernacular irreverently. On the Stevie Wonderesque 'Ghetto Children' she demonstrates the obligatry social concience, "Ghetto children are beautiful too", while the scatology on 'Roller Rink' proves that this is a girl who knows what the F-word means.

All in all a well rounded album. Whether she'll become a disco-diva or remain an R'n'Beaver is up to her, but we're definitely going to hear more.

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