TONI BRAXTON: “Toni Braxton” (Arista/La Face)

A RELATIVELY new name in American female soul, Toni Braxton arrives well equipped for the inevitable fight for chart presence, let alone domination. So far, the sprightly contender has managed to scrap her way into both the US and British Top Ten with the wholesome and uplifting paean to the Wonder Bra, ‘Breathe Again’. Not bad for someone whose profile was almost non-existent this time two years ago, eh?

The probable reason why Braxton has inveigled her way into the pop/soul consciousness is her traditionalism. While every track on this debut sparkles with the sassiness of modern soul rhythms, every groove is invested wit not so much nostalgia as years of experience. As each song flies by in a flurry of jerky modernity, names like The Jackson Five, The Pointer Sisters, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, and numerous others, rise up to smack you in the face.