Those expecting
Annie Lennox to come out full-guns-blazing for her solo debut,
Diva, with the high energy electro-Europop-meets-American- R&B of her
Eurythmics work may have to wind their pacemakers down a notch. The enigmatic vocalist who made a career toying with different notions of gender plays on the concept of fame here --
Lennox dresses up in the persona of a solitary
Diva trapped by counterfeit glory. The framework offers an effective stage for
Lennox's husky voice, showcasing her as much more of a chanteuse than in the past. But the music is strangely muted and understated. In fact, the album almost works best as one integrated mood piece rather than a collection of individual songs. While
Lennox succeeds in carving out a personality distinct from her
Eurythmics days with
Diva, one can't help but crave a shot of former partner
Dave Stewart's musical muscle. [A German version of the CD was also released.] ~ Roch Parisien