9

Description

Sophomore album for Irish folk-pop singer-songwriter follows the phenomenal success of his 2002 debut 'O'. Whilst continuing in much the same vein as that album - musically delicate and deeply introspective - it features some expansion into rock territory. As such it has been hailed by critics as a natural progression for Rice and is sure to appeal to his considerable and diehard fanbase. Includes the singles '9 Crimes' and 'Rootless Tree'.

Editorial Review

Anyone who has heard the tempered warbling of Damien Rice can't help be affected by the experience. Not blown away by volume, but engaged by drenching atmosphere. He has done impressively well already ?and not just in his native Ireland. His debut 'O' was a surprising best-seller in 2003, and this follow-up deserves every bit as much success. Yes there are a plethora of misunderstood, underestimated, gloom-ridden singer-songwriters out there, but very few of them crack it commercially whist clinging to their principles. Rice has done.

He is not shifting units by changing his tune either, as everything here is utterly genuine. With the prevailing tempo rarely raising beyond plodding, one ditty laden with swearing, and the final track being a near 15 minutes of a single note, he's also not going to be challenging the Sugababes for material anytime soon. So he deserves honour for style, and brownie points for imagination, but you can't say this is an experimental affair either ?as is sounds just so beautiful. All the way through.

It's bold and unlikely that the first voice you hear on the album isn't even his. His frequent collaborateur Lisa Hannigan starts the "9 Crimes" opening track, but the bare piano and beautiful strings should take equal billing. It is a simple, effective, and beautifully subdued start to an album that is happy to languish. One with unlikely lines that are still beguiling. "I love your depression, and I love your double chin" is hardly traditional, but "The Animals Were Gone" is an absorbing tale of true affection and love lost.

Ever-present doubts are meant to be there. Just read the lyrics, and question marks of confusion are never far away. "Elephant" even questions the point of the track itself ?which is a particularly Zen approach to songwriting. But as a break-up song it's masterful, and to include the line "you can't paint an elephant" is even better. His style is predominantly subdued but even at his broodiest moments a rabid snarl is never far away.

Yet don't think that lack of decibels means lack of attitude. "Rootless Tree" is another wreck of relationship tale, but the f**k you refrain is almost joyous. It's an explosion of feeling and not just there for an explicit lyrics warning sticker on the cover. "Me, My Yoke and I" develops into something really dark and noisily menacing. But "Dogs" is about the girl who does yoga by the orange tree, and you can almost smell the blossom. The breeziness of "Coconut Skins" also manages to be strangely bright, but without light, shade would be impossible.

Cathartic self-exorcism is a one-sided affair, and although this CD covers all points from jealousy and rejection, to love, hate, and emotional grind, the senses have been prickled as much in the listener as for the purveyor. Yes it's a highly personal album, but one to uncover dark areas under your own stones too. So the naturally dreamy qualities wafting through "Sleep, Don't Weep" come as a virtual blessing of closure. With that, he comes out from the confessional, and the final 15 minutes of magical drone from a Tibetan singing bowl (with alleged healing powers) may just help cure the post-stress emotional rift.

Artists of this ilk are always compared to Nick Drake or Jeff Buckley, which seems a heavy legacy of past martyrdom to take on. But Damien Rice has supplied two awesome albums already, and promises even more. His debut was "O" and this being "9" we can assume that as long as there are single digits to spare, he'll keep on making music. We can only hope.

Neil Chase
Music Editor
November 2006

Additional Info

• Label: 14th Floor / Cinram Logistics
• No of Discs: 1
• Recording: STEREO
• Format: Single Case

Tracklisting