Sia – Some People Have Real Problems (Monkey Puzzle)

The third studio album from the Antipodean singer provides further proof of her deep-rooted talent and stunning vocal range. As its title would imply, emotions run high throughout the record, and although it bears numerous examples of the quirkier, more upbeat side to Sia Furler’s songwriting, the overriding tone tends to be one of solemnity and struggle.

Given the impact of her second album, (often attributed to the fact that her song 'Breathe Me' featured heavily in the finale of the cult US TV show 'Six Feet Under') it's refreshing to see that this new record is by no means a re-working of previously-used formulae.

We’re treated to some well-crafted slices of electro-pop in the form of 'The Girl You Lost' and 'Buttons', irrespective of the dark subject matters involved. These tracks sit by an unashamedly twee album centrepiece featuring a guest appearance from Beck on backing vocals. For all its cute folkiness, the track in question, 'Academia', manages to stand up for itself on account of its rapidly-delivered lyrics and fuzzy electronic backbone, all amounting to some pretty stirring stuff indeed.

Fans of Furler's work with Zero 7 will warm to the likes of the slow-paced 'Little Black Sandals' and 'Beautiful Calm Driving' which come to life through the use of soaring strings and wonderfully-textured choruses. Songs such as 'Lentil' and 'You Have Been Loved' are evidence too of her ability to pull off a moving ballad when the need arises.

Kate Nash has continuously gone on record to denounce the media’s attitude towards female singer-songwriters, complaining of the apparent creation in journalistic circles of a so-called "female genre" to accommodate the new wave of young women in popular music. But the range of styles present on 'Some People Have Real Problems' is such that it is fundamentally difficult to pigeonhole this girl. Certain tracks in Sia's ever-expanding repertoire sound more than strong enough to suggest that she could be out there all on her own.

Rating: 4/5

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Artist: Sia Title: Colour the Small.. Released: 10/01/2006 Buy Now \| View Details	Artist: Sia Title: Some People Have.. Released: 08/01/2008 Buy Now \| View Details

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