This week's Soul CDs reviewed

INDIA.ARIE
Testimony: Volume 2, Love & Politics Island ★★

After the trials and tribulations that dominated the flow of her last album ( Testimony: Volume 1, Love & Relationshipwas written in the aftermath of a painful bust-up), India.Arie's latest album is on a mission to restore some equilibrium. After all, good vibes and positivity to all mankind have been Arie's stock in trade since she glided onto the scene in 2001 Acoustic Soul. Indeed, there's very little on her fourth album which would not fit with ease onto that debut, and therein lies the problem. Despite the best efforts of Arie and producer Dru Castro to throw some new light on proceedings, it's impossible to escape the chicken-soup-for-the- soul mantras, slurpy ballads and self-help blather that she tends to favour and which we've heard many times already. The worst offender is on A Beautiful Day: "There's only one you/Just take a moment to give thanks for who you are." www.indiaarie.com 

Download track: Psalms 23