Divided

Not to be confused with Theoretical Girls — the proto-No Wave quartet of the late '70s that launched the career of experimental composer Glenn Branca — Theoretical Girl is largely the vision of a singular Southend-on-Sea girl, Amy Turnnidge. Unlike the recent wave of distaff singer-songwriters who take all their cues — if not, alas, their melodies — from Carole King circa Tapestry, Theoretical Girl is in thrall to the chamber pop of King's old Brill Building rival, Burt Bacharach. Starchy strings, baroque cornets and Turnnidge's own exceedingly good diction abound, but the lushness is often undercut with astringent synth lines, occasional angular post-punk guitars, a melodica swiped from The Specials, girl-group drumming and handclaps. The effect is like Saint Etienne with a bit more distance from their source material. Turnnidge could use a bit more grit, but Divided is a welcome respite from the deluge of excessively-mannered female vocalists currently dominating the field.