South

Heather Nova has definitely got sunshine in her bag. As an album, South is relentlessly bright and breezy, the aural equivalent of Nova’s Hawaiian upbringing on a yacht. It’s an approach that certainly works for the first few tracks, which even the appearance of Bryan Adams can’t spoil.

Nova herself is an engaging character, with the ability to pen effortlessly classy adult pop songs. Texas in particular would kill to get their hands on ‘Like Lovers Do’ and ‘Heaven Sent’.

Elsewhere, especially on ‘Waste The Day’, she sounds so like Edie Brickell it’s uncanny. After half an hour or so however, it all starts to drag – like being told to ‘have a nice day’ over and over. Just when something a little different is needed, we get it. Sadly, it’s the Bernard Butler colaboration ‘I’m No Angel’ and it’s awful. Torch song ‘Gloomy Sunday’ and the solo acoustic ‘Tested’ salvage matters somewhat, but South could do with a little less grin and a touch more grit. Standing alone, any one of these tracks would brighten your day but, as a collection, it’s a little too sunburnt.