Reviewed by Peter Dilley

First let's clear up any confusion - Stateside it is this release,rather than 'N.B.', which is the follow-up to the younger Bedingfield's 2004 debut 'Unwritten'. On this side of the pond 'Pocketful Of Sunshine' is available as an import. However, five of the 13 tracks, including the title cut, have previously surfaced on 'N.B.' The opener is new though: cheerful and affectionate, "Put Your Arms Around Me" feels as warm and cozy as a favourite jumper. "Love Like This" (featuring Sean Kingston) and "Say It Again" also celebrate the love, trust and understanding built up in a solid and lasting relationship, while "Soulmate" voices a deep desire and longing to find that one special person. On perhaps a lighter note (or possibly not in these image-obsessed days) "Freckles" rebutts inner worries about perceived physical "imperfections": "A face without freckles is like a sky without the stars/Why waste a second not loving who you are?" But for a real pick-you-up, I'd suggest going straight to "Happy". Describing fear as an "enemy within", its "count your blessings" approach to everyday woes and problems is refreshing: "Got my dreams, got my life, got my love, got my friends, got the sunshine above/Why am I making this hard on myself, when there are so many beautiful reasons I have to be happy?" In the rather gloomy times which have been with us recently, such positivity is at least a modest antidote. Classy, R&B-tinged pop from a singer with the talent to be around for years.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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