Leona Lewis: 'Hurt EP' review

Despite being engulfed by plagiarism claims and a mysterious settlement, Leona Lewis's foray into dance music still managed to reach a not-too-shabby number four on the UK chart back in September. However, it seems the label wasn't all too confident about its success and pushed back the release of her third studio set Glassheart to March. In the interim, we've been treated to a trio of new tracks that form Lewis's first standalone EP.

The 'Hurt' EP is built up of three classic rock tracks that have undergone the Leona treatment; something that will no doubt cause despair among music purists. As regards to the title track, the Nine Inch Nails version speaks frankly and poignantly about heroin addiction, while Johnny Cash's cover resonates with a dying man reflecting over his lifetime. It all sounds rather heavy for an X Factor alumnus, but Leona's emotive tones and spine-chilling falsetto adds a compelling beauty to the song that only adds to its haunting quality.

Her rendition of The Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris' is the surprise highlight. "And I don't want the world to see me/ 'Cause I don't think that they'd understand," she quivers over a sprinkling of piano before launching into the chorus with the power and elegance of a swan; while a symphony of strings glides beneath her cover of Counting Crows' 'Colorblind'. The result is a gentle reminder of Leona's unquestionable vocal talent ahead of her next collection - and with the EP fulfilling Simon Cowell's penchant for cover songs, our fingers are crossed for some stellar original material in the New Year.

Listen to Leona Lewis's 'Hurt' below: