Simply Red

Up to a couple of months ago, it was pretty much a forgone conclusion as to which member of Destiny’s Child was set to embark on a successful solo career – Beyoncé had it sown up. Two singles later – one fairly average movie tie-in and a global number one – and the balance has shifted somewhat.

Kelly Rowland has got there first on the album front. It starts off in such stunning style – ‘Dilemna’ gets fresher and funkier with every listen, while ‘Stole’, is a massive leap from the usual R&B fare, it’s seemingly Columbine inspired lyric (“with his father’s nine and a broken fuse, since he walked through that classroom door he’s all over prime time news”) showing a welcome awareness that there’s more going on in the world than bump and grind. Trouble is that much of Simply Deep sounds exactly like you’d expect it to sound, a succession of fairly standard R&B excursions that showcase a fine voice but little in the way of genuine inspiration. When she diverts from the path a little, however, Rowland is capable of much, much more.

The tabla and acoustic guitar lilt of ‘(Love Lies In) Strange Places’ and the dreamy ‘Train On A Track’ are outstanding, as is the laid back groove of bonus track ‘No Coincidence’. Though there’s nothing here to quite match the sheer thrill of ‘Survivor’, ‘Say My Name’ or ‘Independent Woman’, Rowland has made an assured first step as a solo artist. But it remains to be seen where her true destiny lies.