O

Fans of The Hives or the Linkin Parks of this world should avoid O like a biblical plague, but for anyone seeking out beautiful, heartfelt songs performed in mostly acoustic arrangements, this is going to be one of the highlights of 2002.

The music is at once sparse and rich, encompassing everything from folk to opera (check out the extravagant, tumultuous crescendo of ‘Eskimo’) as our hero is aided by a motley crew of like-minded musical musketeers. Vivienne Long’s exquisite cello adds swathes of colour to a number of songs. Composer David Arnold is responsible for the sweeping strings on the beautiful ‘Amie’. Lisa Hannigan contributes some magical co-vocals to ‘Cold Water’, counterbalanced by the un-nerving effects that sound like a Gregorian chant played backwards, as well as a hypnotic ‘Alternative Silent Night’, hidden at the end of the CD.

Recent Hotpress Single Of The Fortnight, ‘The Blower’s Daughter’ sounds as nerve-tremblingly compelling as on first listen. These tender moments are nicely offset by the slightly off-kilter, even bitter sentiment of ‘Cheers Darlin’’, allegedly recorded in a state of non-sobriety. ‘Cannonball’, however, is the standout. Layers of intricate guitar interweave their magic, with Rice’s vocals floating over the top.

Sometimes, Damien’s lyrics do spill over into twee territory, as on ‘Older Chests’, and his penmanship and arrangements can take some pompous turns on occasion, but for the most part, O throbs with sheer humanity and bloody-minded honesty in the face of emotional debris.