Prostitute＜Picture Vinyl＞

Prostitute finds actress/vocalist Toyah Willcox at her best. Although her compositions are often derivative and her influences are pretty obvious, it doesn't seem to matter. The album is filled with fairly simple structures, enhanced with textured but simple percussion, enticing vocals, and consistent, steady rhythms. At times, as on "The Show," "Homecraft," and "Restless," Willcox's voice and music sound incredibly like Kate Bush's; even the arrangements and harmonies are reminiscent of Kate's. At other times, a Laurie Anderson quality surfaces, particularly in the occasional spare passage and spoken-word vocal presentation. "Falling to Earth" gives a nod to Bowie (even in its title), and the upbeat, bouncy "Ghosts in the Universe" sounds suspiciously similar to the Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian." In addition, sounds that bring to mind Adrian Belew are peppered throughout the album. To top off this hybridized mix, husband Robert Fripp appears uncredited on the opening and closing tracks: His voice is heard in wacky dialogue with Toyah's on "Hello," and that unmistakable Fripp guitar adorns "Ghosts in the Universe." The only real drawback to Prostitute is that Willcox's lyrical and musical aesthetics occasionally come across as forced. ~ David Ross Smith