Nearly a decade on from the height of
the Corrs' success, lead vocalist
Andrea finally releases her debut solo album, albeit perhaps too late for anyone to really take notice -- which is a shame, as the majority of
Ten Feet High eschews the over-produced MOR that has dogged her group's recent output, and instead offers a collection of eclectic pop songs that are both lyrically and musically inventive. Opener "Hello Boys" sets the precedent as
Andrea seductively purrs her way through a
Goldfrapp-esque electro-pop stomper, complete with dirty bassline and electric guitar solo. It's a statement of intent you couldn't possibly have predicted, but it's far from the only time she strays from her comfort zone. First single "Shame on You," an antiwar protest based on Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong, is given an ethereal tinge by
Nellee Hooper's understated production, while "Champagne Through a Straw" is a satirical tirade against the culture of celebrity, dressed up as calypso-style breezy summer pop. The album does occasionally misfire. "Take Me I'm Yours" is a rather pointless retread of the
Squeeze classic, the simple lullaby melody of "I Do" is perhaps a bit too cloying, and occasionally she sounds rather disinterested, interestingly more so on the less experimental tracks that could have easily fit on
Talk on Corners. Ultimately,
Ten Feet High is perhaps too left-field for
Corrs fans and not left-field enough to attract new converts, but it's a bold and sometimes brave record that promises an interesting solo career ahead. ~ Jon O'Brien