The once-confident assertion that Javine Hylton was done a favour by not becoming one of Girls Aloud looks ever shakier as their profile stays improbably strong and her singles success wanes (4,15,18…). With album-signing sessions scheduled for branches of Woolworths, Javine’s hopes of becoming the British Beyoncé appear to have been dashed upon the jagged rocks of reality TV.
In “Surrender”, her above-average pipes are showcased in a succession of joyless R’n’B-style pap that even Liberty X might pooh-pooh. First single and opener, the would-be sassy but ultimately sappy “Real Things”, exemplifies the problem. As Javine herself sings, “You could be the hottest, you could be the finest… Be the baddest, be the most stylish,” but none of it matters a bit if you don’t have the hits.
There’s not a moment on the album that has the impact or invention of “Sound Of The Underground” or rises above being standard PWL album filler with a 2004 twist. There are dashes of Spanish guitar (“Best Of My Love”), New Jill Swing arrangements (a cover of Jade’s “Don’t Walk Away”), excruciating Houston-esque ballads (“Promise”) and several sub-J.Lo stop-start ringtones-in-waiting (“Millions”, “Definition Of A Man”), none of which does anything but emphasize the hollowness of the project.
Despite having Will Young’s sparky co-writer Eg White on board, Javine has failed to either find or express a personality through her music. Any one of the songs could be performed by any other female artist, and better. It’s not that she doesn’t have a good voice, just that it’s so utterly anonymous, unmemorable and unremarkable. Any karaoke queen with an autotune could make an album that sounds like this – God knows Jennifer Lopez does, but at least the force of her personality sells the records.
One can only hope there’s money left in Javine’s contract to pay for some stellar videos because without them a return to the West End where, as a stage school pupil, she started out, is surely beckoning. Prepare to surrender your dreams, young lady.
