Megaphonic/Sony

It's been four years since the UK's eccentric wonder Imogen Heap released 'Speak For Yourself', but through the wonder of technology she's kept her fans up to date and entertained via twitter and vBlogs on the creation of this, her third album.

Like Bat For Lashes' Natasha Kahn, Heap keeps alive a tradition for the more creative female spirit which will hopefully inspire others to follow her. Heap herself has come a long way since mimicking Tori Amos on her debut i-Megaphone over a decade ago.

Ellipse finds her settling into her electronic guise quite nicely, though for all her cleverness you wonder whether she might be better off with another set of ears in the form of a producer - perhaps David Kosten from the clasps of the bat woman may be the only suitable hijacking candidate for an artist of Heap's unique vision. I say this because at 13 songs the formula does begin to drift.

Nonetheless there is a clutch of new songs here of which the first four are as strong as anything she's produced previously. 'Last Train Home's' breezy beauty perfectly showcases her breathy, husky tones. So too does 'Wait It Out', which becomes an emotive tour de force born of vocal harmonies perhaps borrowed from Enya and which gently ease the listener into the song with an almost lullaby quality. This trait also compliments 'Little Bird' and 'Half Life', all of which burrow into your head without really trying to be outwardly poppy.

In between these notable numbers - and like 'Speak..' - the album wanes a little. There are some nice touches in 'Tidal''s Bollywood strings and if anything leaps out as single number two, 'Bad Body Double' - a Drop Dead Fred ode to her unpretty alter ego - is it. 'Between Sheets' is a delicate girly paean to 'intimate moments', as she puts it in said ode.

Ellipse is a soothing collection for the impending autumn, where Heap manages to be both girly and womanly, quirky and seductive. Heck there's even a piece to snuggle up to by the fire (if short of company, enjoy a glass of something nice). A contender for next year's Mercury for sure.

www.myspace.com/kelvinhayesofficial