The outlook for former boy/girl band members going solo is not particularly optimistic (Ronan? Gary? Geri?), but the former Scary ‘Babe’s recent coupling with Groove Armada suggests she might last more than the allotted 15 minutes. Although Real Girl is too inconsistent to have you rushing down the bookies, nonetheless it’s a steely attempt at spirited urban R’n’B pop, with nods to Mary J. Blige, Macy Gray, Joss Stone and even Jamelia. ‘Strung Out’ is a feisty emotive ballad over a widescreen backdrop akin to Frankie Goes To Hollywood. The title-track and ‘My Song’ are both comfortably cheery and optimistic, the former sampling large dollops of Lenny Kravitz’s ‘It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over’. ‘Song 4 Mutya (Out Of Control)’, with the Armada in tow, is a Prince-like knock-out, a relentless electronic belter that makes you wish for more. Amy Winehouse adds some sisterly solidarity on the gleeful Spector/Ronettes homage ‘B Boy Baby’, really a reworking of ‘Be My Baby’. ‘Not Your Baby’ is a fine blend of hook-laden energetic pop and sassy attitude, and ‘It’s Not Easy’ has depth and charm in equal measures. But ‘Wonderful’ is heavy-handed, and on ‘Suffer For Love’ Buena simply tries too hard.
Real Girl is a brave, if flawed, effort by Buena to carve out her own niche. She could be around for another while yet, if the numbers at the box-office allow her the second shot she deserves.