Andrea Corr’s first album release in over four years should come with a public health warning sticker.

Sadly, not for advising listeners to avoid it in fear of hyperventilating with excitement, but rather to dissuade motorists from falling asleep at the wheel.

On paper Lifelines promises to be rather special. The set list is a music-buff’s dream, including songs by The Velvet Underground, Harry Nilsson, Nick Drake and Ron Sexsmith, and the co-producing presence of Brian Eno tantalises too. But Corr’s undistinguished readings of John Lennon’s No 9 Dream and Blue Nile’s Tinseltown In The Rain are devoid of the very passion and angst which elevated these songs to iconic status in the first place.

If ever debating the validity of cover versions, Lifelines is a shining example of the negative argument. But lest we forget, Linda Ronstadt did a fantastic job on Blue Bayou, and Chrissie Hynde and especially Donna Summer made blistering covers of Vangelis’s State Of Independence. Andrea Corr doesn’t. The only cover that works well is her take on Kirsty MacColl’s candyfloss classic They Don’t Know.

Fortunately, compared to Andrea Corr, Sophie Ellis-Bextor knows her audience and plays to her strengths. Her fourth solo set is another slice of light disco pop with a catchy hook or two. Although Sophie is heavily involved with the co-writing, it is the input of Cathy Dennis, Calvin Harris and Armin Van Buuren that ensures Make A Scene is a decent affair.

In particular, co-productions with The Freemasons (Bittersweet) and Heartbreak (Make Me A Dancer) will ensure that radio will probably be kind to the 21st century Tina Charles.

• Sophie Ellis-Bextor supports Erasure at Dalby Forest