Imogen Heap — Ellipse

With an album title like Ellipse, adjectives that come to mind are words like "ethereal," "airy" and "quirky." These would all be dead on in describing British solo artist Imogen Heap's newest effort, a release that wouldn't be out of place playing overhead at your nearest Starbucks.

True enough, it's all very sunny, inoffensive music, the edges sanded down by simplistic arrangements and Heap's soothing voice. "Swoon" has a nice jazzy beat that picks up right around the bridge, ending with haunting murmurs that carry the finale of the song.

Likewise, "2-1" sounds like Portishead with a softer side. In contrast, "Bad Body Double" picks things up a little more, yet maintains catchy beats and a set of clever wordplay that tells a story. Between Heap, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Kate Nash, I'm wondering if there's something in the water across the pond that makes Brit songstresses such good lyrical storytellers.

At 13 tracks — one of which is the requisite vocal-less piano piece — Heap's songs run the risk of sounding a bit same-y, or at least in danger of blending in with each other. But while it may not exactly be the musical equivalent of caffeine, it's a little piece of laid-back magic, perfect for lazy spring and summer days.

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