Review – Close

4 stars out of 5 (Top Notch)
With female singers being plucked from their cradles our Kim is almost a geriatric in pop terms. God knows how many times she’s been written off, and then bounced back stronger and slicker than ever. This latest album is proof that Kim will still be around when her rivals are fighting it out in the bargain bins. Switching effortlessly between luscious ballads, ‘Four letter word’ and funk, the brilliant ‘Hey Mr. Heartache’, she even gives the so-so ‘Stone’ a touch of class. An instinctive singer, this album sees her at her most confident, I bet she really belts it out in the bath. I’d like to see her experiment and take some chances, but this’ll do for now.