by David Sinclair

Although a trouper on stage and still one of pop's brightest treasures, Cyndi Lauper has yet to find a modern musical direction that balances her naturally effervescent charm with her status as a mature recording artist. Aided by her new musical soulmate, Jan Pulsford, who has co-written and co-produced most of Sisters Of Avalon, Lauper applies a contemporary sheen to songs such as 'Say A Prayer', with its slightly jazzy leanings, and 'Love To Hate', a mild rant during which she complains about 'Fashion fascists out in droves'.

But there is a subdued feeling to the album as a whole. It is beautifully done, but it would be nice to think she has not had all the old ebullience knocked out of her.