Wishing - Martine McCutcheon

Martine McCutcheon sets her eyes on the dancefloor on her second album. Wishing largely abandons the mid-tempo balladry which pushed her debut album past platinum sales in the U.K., opting for the kind of light disco pop that the likes of Kylie Minogue and Louise excel at. Lead single "I'm Over You" is an infectious slice of empowering pop which fits McCutcheon like a glove, and it duly became her biggest hit since "Perfect Moment," sailed to number two in the U.K. charts. Unfortunately, such gems are few and far between on this album. Covers of disco classics "On the Radio" and "Together We Are Beautiful" (by Donna Summer and Fern Kinney, respectively) are well-sung but workmanlike and bring nothing to tempt listeners away from the originals. At the very least they're memorable, though. The majority of this album is bland and forgettable. McCutcheon remains a gifted singer, but her talents are wasted on this dull material. ~ John Lucas, All Music Guide