"About as alternative as Nando's" was the NME's withering take on 27-year-old Lauren Henson, who performs as Indiana despite hailing from Nottingham rather than Lafayette or Fort Wayne.
Reputation-making US publication Billboard has been kinder, however, boosting Henson's one-to-watch credentials and giving a Yankee thumbs-up to her Top 20 hit Solo Dancing, the fourth single from this debut album. The record itself is glossily produced, cleverly constructed and pleasingly moody, particularly slow-burning opener Never Born, which introduces us to Henson's cool, languid, don't-mess-with-me persona. Solo Dancing further stresses the hands-off message, as does title track No Romeo. It's territory already occupied by Sweden's Robyn, but there's room for more. Thanks to a writing/production team which includes Corinne Bailey Rae, Henson has a supply of pop hooks and access to an impressive sonic palette, and both are put to good use. If Bjorkian is a word, it's a good way of describing her vocal style. A likeable debut - and what's wrong with Nando's?
Barry Didcock
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