Proud

Blessed with one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in British dance/pop Heather Small was always a likely candidate for a solo career once M People ran out of steam.

Her standout performance on the BBC version of Lou Reed's 'Perfect Day' had already guaranteed her a place among pop royalty, and she seemed destined to dethrone Mick Hucknall as the UK's premier soul voice.

On first listen, Proud isn't all that different in approach to her work with the erstwhile chart-toppers. Collaborating with a crack team of songwriters including Simon Climie and Robin Lerner along with musicians like Robbie McIntosh (one-time Pretender and former McCartney sideman), it's a fairly predictable affair overall.

Infectious and impeccably constructed dancefloor fillers such as the title track and 'Holding On' interspersed with big ballads like 'Ease Your Troubled Mind' and 'What Do I Have' should see her return to the radio playlists and charts with little trouble.

Production-wise no expense is spared here with string arrangements and gospel choirs sparring with Small's larynx and coming a poor second most of the time.

It can all get a mite tiresome, but the mid-paced songs like 'Don't Look For Love', 'Change Your World' and 'Afraid' (which starts out uncannily similar to Paul Brady's 'Paradise Is Here') provide some relief. Small is much better when she eases back on the vocal histrionics. Getting there.