SHAKIRA has built up a huge following over the years and has now reached the stage where she feels confident enough to change style without the worry of losing fans.

The gamble seems to have worked on She Wolf (Sony).

While previous albums have paid homage to her South American roots, this time the album has a far more European feel, with heavy reliance on synthesisers.

Fans will already be familiar with the title track, while another potential hit is Why Wait, which sounds like a cross between Britney Spears’s Gimme More and Holly Valance’s Kiss Kiss.

Spy, which features her regular collaborator Wyclef Jean, is a mix of jazz and house, much like the Roisin Murphy’s style.

But the biggest surprise comes on track three, Long Time, which sounds almost like South African kwaito.

The other highlight is the lyrical content, which is hilarious at times, such as on Men in This Town in which she sings about struggling to find a single man and that Matt Damon isn’t available.

Mon Amour is also very funny, as she comes up with dreadful things she hopes will befall her cheating boyfriend while he’s on holiday with his new lover. Overall it is a great album, which fans will love.

BEYONCE’S I am ... Sasha Fierce (Sony) has been out so long it’s already yielded eight hit singles including Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It), If I were a Boy and Halo.

But her fans may still want to get their hands on the new Platinum Edition, which includes three brand new songs, plus the remix of Ego with guest rapper Kanye West. The other new songs are Why Don’t You Love Me, which is a fast-paced song with a retro disco feel, Save the Hero – a slow piano ballad which sounds like it could be the love theme for a super hero movie, and Honesty, an excellent cover of Billy Joel’s hit.

Also listen out for Ave Maria, a track on which Beyonce demonstrates her full vocal range, showing why she is one of the biggest stars today.

AMERICAN rock band Saosin looks unlikely to crack the international market with its latest album In Search of Solid Ground (EMI).

The group’s style seems like a cross between Linkin Park and emo act 30 Seconds to Mars.

While on the first track this seems an interesting blend of styles, by the time you’ve heard 13 almost identical songs, you can’t help but feel bored. The highlight is the final track, Fireflies (Light Messengers), a well-structured ballad, but many listeners will probably have given up long before this track surfaces.

IT’S not every day you stumble across an Australian gangsta rap act, but that’s exactly what Bliss n Eso seems to be on the album Flying Colours (Universal).

The album uses some very strange sections, which sound like they are sampled from old radio recordings from the 1950s or earlier. However with no samples credited, these may be newly created, but designed to sound older.

The backing music differs considerably between tracks with rock, jazz, ambient house and almost classical string arrangements appearing on various tracks.

The biggest interest for South African listeners will be tracks four and five, Bullet and a Target and Happy in My Hoody, both of which feature The Zulu Connection Choir.

The choral act’s excellent vocal harmonies add a completely different element to the hip-hop tracks and deserve to be hits.

The album is definitely worth exploring for any rap fan looking for something different from the usual American or British approach.

TIESTO has long been recognised as one of the best DJs in the world and he also proves his ability to create his own hits on Kaleidoscope (Shelter Music/ Sheer Sound).

While all tracks are electronic, they range between laid-back numbers and fast- paced bubblegum pop.

Great collaborations with Kele Okereke from Bloc Party, Nelly Furtado and Calvin Harris mean the album could be a commercial success as well as on the dance floors.