With song writing friends like Jarvis Cocker, Neil Hannon, Nicolas Godin, and Jean-Benoit Dunckel, who needs a voice? I’m being cynical here but I suspect even Charlotte herself would admit to not possessing the greatest voice in the popular music market. The trick therefore has to be to mould songs around the singer’s capabilities and persona – no easy task. So has this formidable song writing team and performer succeeded? I believe they have…

And the album wastes no time in proving it. Title track 5.55 is a wistful and haunting introduction, with the most delicate piano and string backdrop holding things together nicely. Charlotte’s whispered, wandering vocal is perfectly matched to a set of simple lyrics and strong melody courtesy of Cocker and the Air duo. Next up is AF607105, a distinctive, original song with strong rhythm and appropriate in-flight sound effects. It’s pleasant enough but this time I am struggling to actually hear Charlotte’s vocal. The Operation follows and sonically I feel it’s just a bit too clinical for its rather sexy lyrics: “I want to explore you/I’m gonna get under your skin/So you can feel me running through your veins.” Tel Que Tu Es gets back on track with its attractive piano/orchestral arrangement and lyrical brevity. Charlotte also seems more comfortable with the song and makes it work very well. Neil Hannon has a hand in the next, more upbeat song The Song That We Sing which lyrically is one of the strongest here: “And these songs that I sing/Do they mean anything/To the people we’re singing them to/People like you (shades of Common People?).” Beauty Mark is the gentlest of tunes with a lovely set of simple, intimate, poetic lyrics and a musical arrangement that is just about perfect. The harder-edged, jazzy Night-Time Intermission is dominated by dark, pounded piano, and, probably by design with such a strong instrumental theme, a vocal that sinks into the background. Everything I Cannot See is another highlight where both Charlotte and piano let rip in the choruses, aided by a lovely melody and sweeping orchestral passages.

With few exceptions, this is an album of intimate love songs and achieves its objective of creating a viable musical vehicle for the lady. It’s a record which sounds better each time it’s played, with just a couple of songs that one would throw out of bed. Ultimately 5:55 earns a well deserved recommended buy rating.

3.5/5