(Sanctuary/Shock)

Back from limbo after all these years – must be a Zombie

Back in the ‘90s, Ireland’s Cranberries ruled the airwaves with million-selling records and a string of radio-friendly singles. But after their fifth album in 2001, they faded from view. That it’s taken this long for lead singer Dolores O’Riordan to sort out her first solo album wouldn’t normally augur well for its contents. Yet, even after such a time away, not only is her very distinctive yodel-tinged, airy vocal delivery still unmistakable, she also wraps it in a melodic pop with clear links to the sound of her old band. And, even if she still hasn’t found a way around some of the hurdles of the past, namely her often lame lyrics, it comes together better than I for one was expecting. Sure there are dawdlers (Accept Things) and dirges here (the mis-named Ecstasy). But from the harder guitars and more insistent tone of In The Garden to the Sinead O'Connor-lite feel of Black Widow and the ‘80s synths-guitars meld of October, O’Riordan mixes it up reasonably well. So, faults aside, when it works, it recaptures the soaring sincerity that the Cranberries did so well, but shifts focus enough to show she doesn’t need them anymore.

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BILL HOLDSWORTH

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