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SHE WHO DWELLS IN THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH SHALL ABIDE UNDER THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY
(Hummingbird/Vanguard)
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Sinéad O’Connor’s latest (and perhaps last) effort reeks of an artist trying to fill contractual obligations on the cusp of retirement. The two-disc set consists of one CD of rarities, demos, and remakes and another that documents a full live show. The first 19 tracks include several bizarre, karaoke-like attempts at covers, including a Tex-Mex rendition of Abba’s "Chiquitita," a Burt Bacharach–inspired cover of Nazareth’s "Love Hurts," and a chintzy version of Dan Penn’s Aretha Franklin hit "Do Right Woman." And if that’s not wacky enough for you, there’s also an ode to the late Princess Di: "Brigidine Diana." The more titillating moments are the demos and collaborations with Asian Dub Foundation and Massive Attack, but there’s very little coherence among the tracks on the first disc. The second one, however, is clear and joyous. O’Connor is known for her dynamic live performances, so this show is only one of hundreds that could have been included. It must have been recorded as part of a recent tour, since it includes a large number of tracks from last year’s Sean-Nós Nua. The fire she used to spew on stage back in the early 1990s died out long ago; what’s left is a stripped-down singer who’s been brought back to what made her sing in the first place: traditional Irish music. Of her classics, only a few made it to the disc, including "Nothing Compares 2 U," "I Am Stretched on Your Grave," and "Fire on Babylon." The final track is "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance" — though many still believe they will hear from O’Connor again.
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