Thai sensation Tata Young has been busy since her 2004 debut, I Believe. She has acquired fans not only in Asia, but also the rest of the world. Her third English-language album, Ready for Love, is aimed at breaking into the European market - and it might just work.
The disc opens with the uber-upbeat title track that features bop-worthy motifs and shows off Young's impressive voice. Mission is You demonstrates Young's versatile and melodic tone. It's a club-friendly track, with heavy bass, catchy synth loops and fun lyrics. Young shows she has matured since I Believe. The new album has darker lyrics and sombre messages about heartache and heartbreak, especially on the ballad, Suffocating. My Bloody Valentine stands out as one of the few slow-paced songs.
Accompanied by soft instrumentals, Young charms with her sugar-sweet voice. She is also inspired throughout by other queens of pop: Ugly sounds like the younger Asian cousin of Britney Spears' Circus, while the addictive beats of Shine like a Superstar would sit comfortably on a Pussycat Dolls album.
Ready for Love is likely to be a global disco favourite. But its commercial appeal makes the album unoriginal and repetitive, lacking the spark that Young burst onto the scene with.