AFTER the rife speculation into the sexual preferences of t.A.T.u which accompanied their first album, the young female duo have released their second offering, bringing us yet another collection of same-sounding, uninspiring tunes.

The pair's reliance on their alleged lesbian relationship is all well and good for their media reputation but unfortunately does nothing for their music.

And if this second foray into the album chart is trying to make us take them seriously, they still haven't quite managed it.

The 12-track album offers a selection of angry, fast-paced tracks and more mellow ballads that try to inspire a degree of sadness in the listener.

And although it starts promisingly with the current single All About Us, which is catchy enough to make you like it, it all goes downhill from there.

Some of the slower songs, especially those in Russian, including the melodious Gomenasai, do draw a bit of emotion, albeit in a stereotypical and sentimental way.

But on the whole it is only something you can listen to for about 10 minutes, until boredom sets in.

t.A.T.u are trying to be something different, and have done from the start, but they will always be yet another manufactured act trying to find any gimmick to sell their albums.

Perhaps someone should suggest to them that sometimes quality music does the trick?

ECB