Left Of The Middle

03/10/1998 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Bob Gulla

In the music business, it helps to be lucky. But when you have a little something extra, a little something like, say, talent, well then, you're on your way. Petite Australian Natalie Imbruglia is on her way. A former soap star Down Under, Imbruglia exchanged television studios for recording studios and the results are stellar.

Led by her hit single "Torn," which spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on its way to becoming a million-seller, Left Of The Middle, Imbruglia's full-length debut, has already enjoyed record-setting airplay in Europe. Though her modern rock/ straight pop sound won't set records for originality, Imbruglia is a powerful singer and songwriter, with charisma somewhere between the earthiness of Sheryl Crow and the breathy surrealism of Jane Siberry. Songs like "Torn" and "One More Addiction" feature Imbruglia's vocaldynamism mixed way up, sense-surrounded by a big rock feel and even bigger hooks. To her credit, Imbruglia enlisted some terrific assistance in creating Left Of The Middle, including a crack band, former Cure member Phil Thornalley as a writing partner and Radiohead affiliate Nigel Godrich as producer. With these elements in place--and alittle more luck--Imbruglia will indeed be motoring down the platinum-paved road to Superstardom.