Released on 04/06/07
Label: Island

Now sadly defunct, the cult website "Blame Mutya" was proof of her unusual Sugababe fame. Amongst the site's delights was Buena photoshopped into the Nuremburg rallies, transposed onto the face of the ebola virus and rewritten into an essay on global poverty to prove the International Mutya Fund was responsible. Clearly affectionate, the website reflected the fact that in a world of Girls Aloud blandness and Atomic Kitten neediness, Buena's guts, vivacity and surly attitude stood proudly out.

So, Buena could have taken two paths as solo artist: soften those edges out and join the bland gang, or play them up and become a pop Siouxsie Sioux. Slightly awkwardly, she's chosen a middle ground: one which emphasises her unglossy earthiness (the breezy hit title track) and her acidic scorn for a spurning lover (the near-Portishead doominess of "Strung Out"), while also reminding us that she's a sweet girl at heart (the really rather horrible "Wonderful").

Predictably, the result is an enjoyable, overlong mess. That Mutya is willing to experiment with pop, electro, R&B and classic soul sounds is almost as praiseworthy as the fact that her fluid, distinctive voice can carry them all off. But like Jamelia's ill-fated third record, though considerably better, the result tends to dilute her overall impact.

Of course, it's the collaborations that catch the ear. Of these the Groove Armada hook-up "Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)" is by some margin the best thing, a thumping slice of '80s garage over which Mutya alternatively mutters, growls and swoons. It's a brilliant performance by everyone involved, and the only thing you can only imagine being sung by Buena alone. The George Michael duet "This Is Not Real Love" on the other hand is predictably bland and soulless, yet more proof that Michael has smoked his songwriting skills into paralysis.

And then there's the Amy Winehouse duet "B-Boy", which tackles the almost uncoverable Ronettes' classic "Be My Baby" and rewrites it for Buena's baby son. It should be an unspeakable disaster, and yet the two inject enough personality and carefree fun to carry it off. A few more spiky moments like this and "Song 4 Mutya…", and a few less mid-tempo snoozes like "It's Not Easy", and this could have been a brilliant, bold debut by one of our most interesting pop stars. As it is, it will have to settle for an interesting mixed bag.

    by Jaime Gill