Aussie songwriting machine Sia Furlong’s seventh LP is something of a head-scratcher. Knowingly titled This Is Acting, the 12-tracker is a collection of songs turned down by other artists: Adele, Rihanna and the Queen Bee herself, to name but a few. It’s essentially an album of B-sides, penned by one of pop’s most talented powerhouses.

And indeed, there’s no doubt Sia – who refreshingly tends to shy away from the limelight – knows how to write a pop belter. For the most part, the tracks on This Is Acting tick all the boxes – hushed piano intros, and heartfelt R&B verses gradually building to catchy, epic choruses. But throughout, if feels like that extra oomph is missing. Maybe it’s the fact we’re being shown the magician behind the curtain, or just that there’s not enough variety. The dizzy heights of 2014’s 1000 Forms of Fear aren’t quite reached, nor has the album got the quirky charm of say, 2008’s Some People Have Real Problems. Whilst Sia is certainly a songwriter of huge talent, This Is Acting doesn’t showcase that to full effect.

Key Track: ‘Cheap Thrills’

6/10

Out Now on Monkey Puzzle / RCA Records