After being furiously propelled into the spotlight with a feature on Eminem’s most famous song to date Stan, it was only wise that Dido’s (had been) badly selling album No Angel would spark interest. Holding the song Thankyou that shot not only Dido but Eminem himself to further heights, the album was a boundless success. Many critics and music lovers were inept on blaming the catapult of stardom down to the one song it’s self, and got ready the serrated knife to butcher Dido apart. But even though the album cost VERY little to make by most industry standards, and was written and produced by Dido and her own brother Rollo, most had only one or two bad things to say. Yes that’s right, No Angel was good, actually it was very good. Coming from a hip hop and self-proclaim jazz enthusiast, I myself downloaded this album expecting a weak array of songs, boring subject matter and hideous production. But actually what I got was a hauntingly beautiful voice, visualising production and passion. So much so that I went out and brought the real CD that came with bonus video’s and songs. Dido may claim to be No Angel, but this is certainly heavenly.
Tracklisting & Rating
1)Here With Me4.5 Star
2)Hunter 3 Star
3)Don’t Think Of Me 4.5 Star
4)My Lover’s Gone 2.5 Star
5)All You Want 5 Star
6)Thankyou 5 Star
7)Honestly Ok 5 Star
8)Slide 3.5 Star
9)Isobel 5 Star
10)I’m No Angel 4.5 Star
11)My Life 4.5 Star
Bonus Track
12)Take My Hand 4 Star
The album starts off beautifully well with Here With Me, the hit song from the television series Roswell High. Over alienated shattering keys, and a scattered drum beat, the production from Rollo is surprisingly simple but seems so vastly complicated. Dido’s voice comes in quite quickly. Now to break down her voice is extremely difficult as it is very textured. There’s parts of her voice which are very coarse and gritty, but then she has a gentle smoothness that flows over almost any production. The alienated keys bring out the darkness in her voice (but as you later find on the album, different production brings out her different layers). The song talks about a man that has left her and how she feels somehow empty. If someone told this I would expect the song to sound pitting and watered down, actually quite the opposite. Dido’s voice paints brilliant mental pictures of the dryness she feels, which is not only NOT depressing but enjoyable, what a good song.
Carrying on with the vulgarly depressing but contrasting upbeat note, Dido talks of harsh love, but benefited in the end on Don’t Think Of Me. Over a continual drum loop, sparse with guitars, a tambourine and light keys, Dido once again paints an awesome mental picture of a new relationship that her older lover has now. She compares in details the little things this woman has done, asks if they are the same or better than SHE Dido could do. It’s basically a clever question and answer session from Dido to the old lover. For someone who has never been in love (like me), it’s a wonderful insight to what many may feel after a meaningful relationship, so much so as I could imagine it. The tambourine and drum loop portray the silkiness in her voice, which makes beautiful listening.
’So you're with her, and not with me. I hope she's sweet, and so pretty. I hear she cooks delightfully, a little angel beside you…’
One of my favourites on the album All You Want, comes across next. What is so great about this song is the suspense. Over deep, simple keys and guitar strings Dido tells her boyfriend how much she used to love him and needs him so bad. Then as the chorus comes forward the delicateness in her voice loosens, and her griminess exposes itself over a clashing snare and hard hit electric background. The production on this couldn’t be more perfect, as the rawness in her voice empowers the production. I truly believe (though I’m not expert, but I know what I like) that a good voice can call through the most amazing production ever and still be the focus on the song. The keys hit lightly in the background and the snare waves between but all you can think about is the levels in Dido’s voice as she touches the listener with this:
’I'd like to watch you sleep at night, to hear you breathe by my side. And though sleep leaves me behind, there's nowhere I'd rather be.’
Leaving the song EVERYONE has heard behind we come to another gem on the album Honestly OK. The production on this, at first shocked me as it’s so ‘out there’ and bizarre. It sounds like a fusion of psychedelic acid and pop. Over bizarre scaling electric keys and some electronic voices, light maracas, a soft drum loop and violins, Dido tells the story of when she went into confinement in here house, staying there for three weeks. Well actually I lie, it’s ABOUT that time, but the track really tells the tale of how she’s insecure and just wants to be happy. This song is so passionate and original I really don’t see how anyone could not like it. If you are in a depressing mood, either don’t listen to it or listen to your hearts content for something to relate too. Dido’s voice is almost defenceless here as the keys echo about here and her experience…amazing song.
’I just want to feel safe in my own skin, I just want to be happy again. I just want to feel deep in my own world, but I'm so lonely I don't even want to be with myself anymore’
So after a stream of 5 star tracks we come to me favourite song on the album Isobel. Over suspenseful beating drums, electric keys and an electric guitar play softly in the background, slowly getting louder until their the main focus of the production with the drum rolling behind. The production on this track is VERY atmospheric, telling the true story of Dido’s friend who killed herself and collapsed the world around Dido. Not only does this song paint an amazing picture of the event happening, it tells of Dido’s tortured feeling through the harshness of her voice, that loses all innocence. The beating drums give a hugely dark approach to the song which absorbs you in even more. A quite unbelievable song.
’Dear Isobel, I hope you're well and what you've done is right. Oh it's been such hell, I wish you well and hope your safe tonight. It's been a long day coming and long will it last, when it's last day leaving, and I'm helping it pass by loving you more.’
Taking a path in the right direction, Dido ends the album VERY well with My Life. The upbeat pattern disintegrates here, with this lovely relaxing slow number, calling the album to the end greatly. Over a cracking raw drum loop and deep piano keys, this is probably the most simple production on the whole album but still amazing. I really can’t explain how beautiful Dido’s voice is over the piano keys and loop, taking on a silkiness and grittiness that I didn’t know was possible. The song explains Dido relationship predicament at that time of how she feels trapped and controlled and can only let out these feelings with her music, check a bit out:
’Oh the world has sat in the palm of your hand not that you'd see, and I'm tired and bored of waiting for you and all those things you never do’.
Like Honestly OK, Dido does not sing that much lyrics but it seems like a lot more than it actually is. But in actual fact three quarters of the song is production, still genius.
In conclusion, Dido’s, No Angel isn’t without it’s faults, but it’s good, very good. Too make this a five star album Dido could have verified the subject matter, making the album seem a little more upbeat and about more subject than love (Not including Isobel). Also I didn’t like all the songs on this album i.e.Hunter. But to the good points, Dido has made a solid debut. Packed with vivid images of life experiences and love, combined with some beautiful production, and of course her unbelievable voice, this is worthy of 4 stars. Maybe some thought it was overrated, and worth 3, for It’s at times depressing content. But take it from me, this is a solid debut worth ever penny of your hard earned cash, and surpassingly named No Angel-but believe me she’s flying high.
Dido was five when she stole her first recorder. This didn t lead to prison but rather to her entrance one year later into the Guildhall School of Mus...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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