Tanita Tikaram – I am always on the lookout for new girl singers, though not so much these days.  In 1988 Tanita emerged, fully formed, as the complete singer songwriter – she could have been straight out of the Seventies.  She released a brilliant debut album (possibly her best) produced by Pete Van Hooke and Rod Argent (who should know a thing or two).  A great lead-off folk-inspired ‘Good Tradition’ and a follow-up hit ‘Twist In My Sobriety’ but really every song is good; faves are ‘Cathedral Song’, ‘World Outside Your Window’ and ‘Sighing innocents’.  She seemed to combine a sultry quite deep voice with sensitive intelligent and quirky lyrics.  Loved it instantly.  The follow-up, 1990’s Sweet Keeper was another excellent record, if slightly less commercial than her debut.  More of a classical feel to this one with the addition of strings and some slower songs where her voice really dominates the song.  Best are ‘Once and Not Speak’, ‘We Almost Got It Together’ and ‘Little Sister leaving Town’.  Her third was Everybody’s Angel; the cover with her short hair seems to portend a more grown-up album. Although the album sold less well, I really loved this one – I felt she had found her style with this one; gone are the poppy tunes, except for one old song ‘Hot Pork Sandwiches’ but Tanita seems to be following her sadness and sorrows, a bit like her heroes – Leonard and Joni.  She co-produced a few of the songs on this one and even had Jennifer Warnes (see W) harmonising on a couple.  Best are ‘Only The Ones We Love’, ‘To Wish This’ and ‘Mud In Any Water’.  1992’s Eleven Kinds Of Loneliness was a bit of a flop, though I quite liked it, or at least some of it.  There are a handful of very good songs – ‘You Make The Whole World Cry’, ‘To Drink The Rainbow’ and ‘Love Don’t Need No Tyranny’ – but much of the rest just passes me by.  All a bit boring I am afraid.   Three years passed until her fifth – Lovers In The City.  A lovely cover but not such a lovely album.  It seems that Tanita was losing her way; not sure whether to chase that elusive pop stardom or to chronicle the ways of love.  Lead single ‘I Might Be Crying’ has that familiar ring to it and should have been a hit – but in the way of these things Tanita’s 15 minutes of fame had long passed – though I liked the song.  I preferred the album to the last one, especially ‘Feeding The Witches’, the title song and ‘Happy Taxi’.   A change of direction was maybe needed.  And her next 1998’s The Cappuccino Songs’ went some way towards that.  A new record label (falling sales) but a new producer too – Marco Sabiu – who brought a more nuanced feel, brighter instrumentation and a more latin feel to some of the songs, which were by no means poor.  Best were – ‘Stop Listening’, ‘I Don’t Want To Lose At Love’ and ‘If Ever’.  A much better record all round.   Seven years before her next – Sentimental – and a closer, more intimate, piano led album.  The vocals seem warmer and right in your ear – the songs are generally slow and the whole record is almost one piece.   Best are ‘Don’t Let The Cold’ a slightly up-tempo duet with Nick Lowe and ‘Every day Is New’.   Another seven years (what do they do with all those years?) before her next album; 2012’s Can’t Go Back, a much more rounded and dare I say, commercial sounding record.  New producer again and a more contemporary almost Americana feel.  The album sold a bit better too, though she remains an acquired taste really.  Best songs are ‘All Things To You’, ‘Dust On My Shoe’ and ‘One Kiss’.  Altogether a really pleasant album.   I got the deluxe version with an extra CD of acoustic versions of some of her earlier songs – which are really quite good.  Her last album (so far) was in 2016 – Closer To The People – This was a bit of a disappointment; a slightly bluesy but almost nondescript collection of songs.  Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot get into this record at all.  And after this, so far nothing.  I have always felt that Tanita was a bit half-hearted about the whole enterprise – so maybe that will be it.  Still.  I also have a Best Of Tanita Tikaram, from the first few albums and very good it is too.