For someone who sings "life is only as hard as we make it" on recent single 'Glory Days', The Remedy often makes life sound like the toughest thing going. Back after three years, Karima Francis has returned with an album that, while proclaimed as having an overriding sense of rediscovered strength, is delivered so earnestly that it lessens the impact of its uplifting stories, not to mention its appeal of repeated listens.

That's not to say that The Remedy is a bad album; with tracks that often caress the ears and sound never less than lovely, thanks both to a smooth, understated production and Karima's wonderfully emotive vocals, it certainly isn't a struggle but with a distinct lack of variation, you'd have to be in a very specific mindset to fully enjoy it. 'Tonight' and 'Glory Days' provide some spark, the latter especially with an excellent line in brass instrumental backing, but these are the exception and not the rule. The Remedy's main issue is that it rarely matches the heartbreakingly gorgeous tones of 'Wherever I Go' - 'Stay' comes the closest - resulting in an album that often feels like such a downer, you'd rarely want to revisit it; a shame, given that there's no denying Karima Francis' talent.

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