Dido - Safe Trip Home (Album) (From Messenger Newspapers)

Dido - Safe Trip Home (Album)

11:04am Wednesday 7th January 2009 in Leisure By Mick Middles

A ‘GOONER’ in LA!

One might have reasonably expected the now sun-drenched Dido to have found a breezier niche, given that the leaden skies of Finsbury Park are now in the past.

Not so. If anything, it is more introspective than before. Indeed, the prevailing feel of Safe Trip Home is one of a new found seriousness, and, even while this remains music to eat couscous to, the themes are darker and, in places intensely personal.

The celtic flavoured Grafton Street, co-written with Brian Eno, is the towering song here and is apparently the tale of Dido’s father’s last moments.

This is a genuinely beautiful six minutes and, if anything, the limitations of Dido’s vocals serve to intensify the effect. Those accusing Dido of lilting blandness, should listen with care.

Throughout the album, the soundproduced at the LA studio of Jon Brion is never less than elegant and, in places, the addition of sumptuous strings expand the sound to a sweepingly cinematic level.

"Even while this remains music to eat couscous to, the themes are darker and, in places intensely personal."

Mick Middles

Given the ease in which this will connect with a non-music-loving audience, it is easy to criticise.

However, rather like Fleetwood Mac’s eternal Rumours, (Mick Fleetwood makes an appearance) one senses that this is an album that will gain stature over the years, rather than lose it.

Mature, thoughtful and lovingly packaged.