Album Review: Clairy Browne - Pool

The last time we encountered Clairy Browne she was pulling some red-hot soul mama moves giving homegrown talents like Saskwatch, Emma Donovan and even Kylie Auldist a run for their money.

Unlike her contemporaries, Browne comes to us with a whole lot of personality and fierce attitude to deliver her unique brand of razzle dazzle. Browne has dropped the Bangin' Rackettes to step out in fine solo style. Pool finds Browne stepping away from the charming revivalist big band, old school vibes for which she's known to deal more modern pop-inflected R&B tunes. Califalling For You features Browne indulging in California dreaming, which of course is where this album was recorded. Aided and abetted by Amanda Warner and a host of musicians and producers who have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, Browne unexpectedly delivers an album of big brash pop tunes that spreads jam on some fine grooves.

The jaunty bounce of Vanity Fair is as close as Browne get to delivering a dancefloor monster, keeping things decidedly mid-tempo throughout this album. Pool offers up breezy love song but moments later Still Goodbye deals bitter heartbreak. Looking pretty in pink, Birthday Suit celebrates natural beauty with a serve of hedonism. With You comes in distracting '80s electro-pop flavours.

Browne's in fine form on this album, coming on strong but carefree and ready to take on the world.