The latest release reviewed

SHAKIRA Oral Fixation Sony/BMG ***

There's more to Shakira Ripoll than meets the eye. The Colombian, who broke through to the English-speaking world with her Laundry Service album, is a breed apart from other pelvic- thrusting poppets.

Maybe it's her background, maybe it's her intelligent approach to the music business, but certainly here she displays a more rounded type of pop crossover artist than we normally encounter.

Filmed during last year's Oral Fixation tour (which had two albums of the same name backing it), we find the contralto performing shows at most points around the globe, with guest appearances here and there by collaborators such as Alejandro Sanz and Wyclef Jean.

There are plenty of extras and also some tasteful shots of Shakira's work with underprivileged children in Colombia. - BRIAN BOYD