BRITNEY SPEARS - BRITNEY GOES 'SENSUAL AND SEXUAL'

Pop princess BRITNEY SPEARS is promising her new album will be a deeply "sensual and sexual" affair.

The LP, which includes collaborations with R KELLY, SEAN 'P DIDDY' COMBS and MOBY, is her first release in a traumatic two years that have seen the break-up of her parents' marriage, her split from long-term boyfriend JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE and tabloid allegations of sexual indiscretions with a string of celebrity suitors.

And Britney embraces shedding former wholesome, virginal image - marked in startling clarity by her lingering onstage smooch with MADONNA at the MTV VMA awards last month (28AUG03) - with her much-anticipated new album.

Her joint effort with controversial soul star Kelly, a track called OUTRAGEOUS, lives up to the promise of its title. Lyrics include the line, "Oh, it's so hot, and I need some air, boy, don't stop, 'cause I'm halfway there."

A collaboration with Moby shows further signs of a more mature Britney. The singer describes EARLY MORNIN' as being about "going out at night and feeling like s*** the next day".

But Britney insists her new sexier image isn't a reflection of a steamy personal life at the moment.

She says, "Of course I'm not doing Baby One More Time and those big, massive hits anymore.

"I think this record is where I'm at right now in my life. It's sensual, it's sexual. I'm probably writing about that subconsciously because I don't have that right now."