One time Pop Idle contestant Victoria Hesketh aka Little Boots delivers Electro pop debut.

Hands starts with what sounds like a Goldfrapp off-cut, Little Boots channelling Tobey Torres vocals to a warm electro groove before unfortunately dropping a Lilly Allen style chorus. “Earthquakes” is a glorious pop stomp with something of early Depeche Mode in the more introverted moments, though the production niggles just below the surface. "Stuck on Repeat" is heard in isolation would be easily mistaken for Kylie’s latest complete with sweet nasal vox. It’s no mistake, Hands producer Greg Kurstin has previously worked on the pint sized Aussie’s “X”. and in interviews Hesketh has gladly mentioned Kylie’s influence.

While off to a promising start there’s a dip in quality beyond. Fifth track “Remedy” is, sadly, pop drivel. Sure, it’ll get the teeny-boppers dancing but the musical theatre style verses will remind anyone old enough to remember Geri Halliwell’s awful “Look at Me”. Other songs are easy to ignore, noticeably weaker than the album openers and missing any real distinguishing features. The tunes are not bad, but they are mildly irritating.

Hands suffers as many pop LP’s do, not a coherent album but a collection of chart hits and difficult to listen to in one setting. Like saccharine her voice becomes too sweet and artificial and the lack of depth becomes frustrating. "Mathematics" brings some quality back with possibly the most unlikely metaphor for love in a pop song, smarter than the average fair it goes like clockwork.  "Symmetry" has Human League frontman Philip Oakey’s duets providing some gravitas and genuine 80’s sheen. Unfortunately the remaining tracks only feel more disappointing in comparison. The less said about the secret bonus track available on CD the better.

Much has been made of Hesketh writing her own material and her ability to play a range of instruments but this doesn’t guarantee integrity just as a great name doesn’t grant identity. It’s clear Little Boots has the potential but while Ladyhawke and a slew of other girls bridge the gap between the mainstream and underground scenes going this far down the pop route might leave her trapped as a stopgap Kylie.  Hands is good but it feels like a industry record rather than an artist record.