Now that reality TV has enabled the pop industry to create its very own soap operas, making stars from an endless supply of desperate wannabes, it's no wonder that precious few actors hit the charts anymore. Strange then that ex-'Neighbours' star Holly Valance has managed to make the transition from soap to pop so easily. Or is it?
Well no. The formula can be summed up in one three-letter word - sex. Holly has struck a chord with one of the oldest tricks in the book - sex sells and there are plenty of buyers. Whereas Kylie started her post soap career as the girl next door, allowing her the time to grow into the disco vixen of today, Holly has dispensed with the foreplay and dropped the blonde bombshell straight away.
For a start, the track titles read like a list of punch-lines from a collection of classic British, end-of-the-pier seaside postcards and the photography in the liner could have come straight out of Loaded. Her decidedly limited vocal chords concentrate on emitting a breathy, sultry drawl rather than singing and there are precious few tunes to speak of.
The tried and tested formula of Turkish tinged dance pop lasts for the opening trio of tracks, 'Kiss Kiss', 'Tuck Your Shirt In' and 'Down Boy', before Holly explores a variety of styles so light they tend to float in one ear and swiftly exit the other without leaving much of a lasting impression.
The helium light drivel of 'City Ain't Big Enough' passes without trace and the thinly veiled attempt at Sugababes style sassiness, 'Harder They Come', exposes her faults all too easily. Without her scantily clad form to ogle at in her videos, Holly's legions of male fans may well tire sooner rather than later. By releasing material this weak and with any sort of personality very thin on the ground, Ms. Valance is already starting to appear distinctly hollow.
