Serafina Steer, Public Spirited (3

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Nice English lass with a pretty, well-articulated, theatrical delivery sings songs about eggs, kisses and kitchen shelves, going to or being in the movies with her best friends and whether or not the meek really would want to inherit the earth.

While seeming domesticated, Serafina Steer is, as this tiny little record claims, "public spirited". Only her contributions to the common good may not be what the other housewives and bakesale do-gooders were expecting.

The lyrics of the first song, "Eggs", deliciously lampoon our modern-day suckerdom for the wisdom of the women´s magazines, consumer society, the whole Oprahverse of "buy spiritual fulfillment through my website and feel fine". Until next time. In a nutshell - or an eggshell.

Of course, that is more my rant than Steer´s, even if it shares a common basis. Public Spirited consists of four very wordy songs through which she rushes breathlessly, as if determined to get down as many of her thoughts as she can before the meagre running time of twelve and a half minutes is out. Accompanying herself mostly on harp is a great idea - the harp always prepares the listener to be wrapped in romantic gauze, mellowing the harsh edges of reality. Consequently it´s quite a shock to hear the singer blurt that she´s going to sell her neighbour´s dirty secrets to the tabloids to such innocent trills.

Throw in a little synthesized recorder and drums and a few dabs of clarinet from some sidepersons, and Serafina Steer´s little Barbie-sized album is ready to bewitch and deceive. And delight.

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