Duffy

EndlesslyPolydor ***

After the success of Rockferry, 25-year-old Amy Duffy was unsure where to go next, so she found herself with some unlikely collaborators. Here she's hooked up with veteran songwriter Albert Hammond and legendary live band The Roots, but instead of diving deeper into the soul, she seems to be paddling around in the pop shallows. Though Keeping My Babyevokes classic Madonna, Lovestruckhas more than a whiff of Spice Girls off it. Breath Awayand Too Hurt to Danceare more adolescent angst than adult emotion, but at least Girl and My Boyhave tongues firmly in teen cheeks. Still, there's an empty space where the killer tracks should be, although Well Well Welltries gam ely to match Mercyand Don't Forsake Metreads similar ground to Warwick Avenue. The title track has a soul-baring charm, but Hard for the Heartis a potentially great anthem held back by a non-committal delivery.

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Download tracks: Well, Well, Well, Endlessly, Hard for the Heart