Albums: Claire Richards Euphoria

As her appearance as Knitting on The Masked Singer easily proved, Claire Richards is one of the UK's most loved and easily recognised vocalists. Having been instantly recognised across the nation when she debuted in Week1 performing Becky Hill's Remember, subsequent appearances had Steps fans screaming at the television as to her identity, while her bandmates turned to social media to tease their suspicions. Having been revealed in Week 6, following a rousing performance of Anastacia's Left Outside Alone, she revealed her intention to finally follow-up her 2019 debut album, My Wildest Dreams, although she intended to bring the party this time around.

Named after the opening song (and last song recorded for the album), Euphoria, Richards makes that intention a reality as she releases her sophomore album. Although there was a minority of fans decrying the fact her second album would be a covers release, the majority were overjoyed when they heard the first teaser - the rather epic cover of Celine Dion album track, I Surrender. It was clear that Richards was enjoying herself and that her promise of party was to be fully delivered.

Euphoria is, predominantly, a celebration of the songs by female vocalists who have shaped and moulded her from a musical theatre style performer into a fully fledged pop icon. Having always veered towards balladry as a solo artist, she looked at the music industry's definitive female artists and realised how it was with the up-tempo numbers that you heard the true depth of their vocal talents. With covers of Olivia Newton-John, Pat Benatar, Cher, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand, this is a collection of songs you know, love and oftentimes don't want to have touched.

However, when a vocalist of Richards' standing takes them on, she does so faithfully and loyally. These are reworkings. They belong to Richards, but they are delivered in a way that allows her ownership without detracting from the power and beauty of the original.

Having teamed up with Delta Goodrem for a collaboration on No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), it is immediately evident that a duets collection between the pairing is a must in every pop lovers' collection. Their vocals fuse faultlessly and the power of the emotion within the disco classics reworking is pure fire. An effortless highlight, it is joined by a truly tender rendition of The Carpenters classic Goodbye To Love and an impassioned rendition of Stephanie Mills' Never Knew Love Like This Before as the album's choice moments.

With songs of the calibre contained within the record, it would have been easily for a vocalist to fall short on delivery. While the songs are stars in their own right, with the loveable Claire Richards at the microphone, these songs take on new life and new meaning.

Euphoria is truly euphoric.