Gabriella Cilmi scores 3/5

If you're looking for inspirational lyrics, don't linger too long here. The lessons this 16 year old has learnt won't take you very far. However, if you're looking for something to kick your heels to while you slick on a little lipstick, you have a perfect album to set a pre-party mood.

Gabriella Cilmi (say "chill-me") was discovered at age 13 by fluke when caught giving a spontaneous rendition of the Rolling Stones' 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' at a community festival in Melbourne. This took her to the UK where she co-wrote songs for the album in a house famed for being the home of Alice Liddell, otherwise known as the inspiration behind Alice in Wonderland.

Described as the Catholic schoolgirl version of Amy Winehouse, Cilmi has a lot more to offer vocally. The tonal differences in her varying vocal registers carry her confidently across from sultry and soulful to a more scratchy, bluesy style. The warmth and mature sound of her voice contradicts the tender sweet 16 image associated with her age. This comes through strongly in the track titled 'Safer'.

'Sweet about me' really brings the honey home for this debut album. The lazy rolling beat and raspy, smoky vocals tumble with the tongue-in-cheek lyrics: "When you're playing with desire/ Don't coming running to my place when in burns like fire, boy".

'Sit in the blues' takes you to a seat in a lonely hotel bar late at night. As you sip at a bourbon on the rocks, watching the lady in red croon into her microphone, the words "I sit in the blues waiting for you who I never see / there's never good news no not bout you" strike a meloncholy chord.

The intro to the cover of Miranda and the Muffins' "Echo beach" is reminiscent of a 1970's dance hall ska beat. Very catchy. Especially when you're stuck in the traffic after a long day at work.

All in all the album is blended like a good vodka martini with a shot of blues, shaken with soul and some crossover jazz, and served with a twist of disco to finish it off. If you don't look too deeply into the lyrics, you'll find that it is undemanding and surprisingly enjoyable.