No Mermaid - Sinead Lohan

...the world, should have. Thankfully no relation to current tabloid-favourite Lindsay Lohan, Irish singer-songwriter Sinead Lohan's second solo album "No Mermaid" contains a whole raft of memorable and accessible songs.

"No Mermaid" was actually something of a departure from the artist's first CD, 1995's "Who Do You Think I Am?". The earlier work was much more folkier, the songs based on more traditional ...
...To date, however, there's been no further news on this, which is a shame - Sinead Lohan has a fine voice and deserves a wider exposure. In fact, I regularly pick "No Mermaid" out of my collection at the expense of more recent purchases, it's that worthy of repeated listening.

Twelve fine tracks make up the album:

01. No Mermaid
02. Don't I Know
03. Whatever It Takes
04. Loose Ends
... more

Back in 1998 an album was released that barely made a splash but if there was any justice in the world, should have. Thankfully no relation to current tabloid-favourite Lindsay Lohan, Irish singer-songwriter Sinead Lohan's second solo album "No Mermaid" contains a whole raft of memorable and accessible songs.

"No Mermaid" was actually something of a departure from the artist's first CD, 1995's "Who Do You Think I Am?". The earlier work was much more folkier, the songs based on more traditional arrangements. Forr her follow-up, this seemed to have been ditched in favour of a more contemporary sound complete with synth backing, which might have horrified her acoustic-loving fans, yet there are still traces of her former incarnation if you delve deep enough - it's mellow enough to be folk-inspired.

This album was released in 1998 - she hasn't really been heard of since she had a baby in 2001 although there were rumours last year that a new CD was in the works. To date, however, there's been no further news on this, which is a shame - Sinead Lohan has a fine voice and deserves a wider exposure. In fact, I regularly pick "No Mermaid" out of my collection at the expense of more recent purchases, it's that worthy of repeated listening.

Twelve fine tracks make up the album:

01. No Mermaid
02. Don't I Know
03. Whatever It Takes
04. Loose Ends
05. Whether Or Not
06. What Can Never Be
07. Believe It If You Like
08. Out Of The Woods
09. People And Tables
10. Disillusioned
11. Hot On Your Trail
12. Diving To Be Deeper

Whilst Sinead Lohan may have tried to ditch the whole folk sound, "No Mermaid" demonstrates that its influences haven't entirely left her. The intro arrangement clearly harks back to a more folk-inspired sound whilst her vocals are sublime, retaining a texture so smooth that the lyrics seem to simply slide out of my speakers. Her delivery is classy and heartfelt without hysterics, and whilst the pace isn't frenetic, there's still an urgency that demands you keep listening until the very end.

"Don't I Know" opens with an almost subliminal drum solo, heralding Sinead's angelic voice. Whilst it's another slow number, she raises her profile enough to keep the interest going throughout. On someone else's album, this might be classed as filler or background music - not here. The fast and the slow work equally well.

The pace quickens on "Whatever It Takes", though, this single receiving reasonably widespread coverage on radio at the time but seemingly very little in recent years - can't remember hearing it in the last few years. From the get-go it's a much more bouncy, upbeat, even wistful affair, complete with a string of lyrics that might look like dead ends on the inlay card but really work well in action. Arguably the most accessible track on the entire CD, it never fails to get me singing along (and in tune!).

"Loose Ends" begins almost like a Portishead track but soon settles down into one of her now-trademark slow-burners. This track is probably the most laboured in terms of pace so far on the CD, yet it has a rather haunting quality that's quite endearing. The persistence of the drum and the synth backing should grate but it just adds to the atmosphere.

Sinead Lohan has a powerful voice even if she doesn't feel the need to belt out songs - on "Whether Or Not" there's a slight sea-change in the delivery, with the accent a little more on energy and urgency although without compromising the sheer beauty of the track.

Speaking of beauty, "What Can Never Be" really needs to be experienced in order to truly appreciate her voice. This song probably retains more folk influence than any of the others but it doesn't matter - simply sit back and let her compelling delivery wash over you. Minimal guitar backing and percussion manage to emphasis her voice rather than drown it out, and the finished product is absolutely wonderful.

You could virtually class "Believe It If You Like" as 'Celtic trip-hop' - it's got that whole swirling, twirling backing thing going on behind her vocals, something that seems to take hold of you and tangles you up. Seriously, though - there's plenty of layers on this track: you penetrate beyond her vocals and then discover a whole new world going on beneath them.

It's not often I've bought a CD and immediately thought that there's not a bad song on the album after just the first run-through. It's only happened once or twice before (Gemma Hayes' "Night On My Side" springs to mind) - usually I pick up on anything up to half-a-dozen songs and if the rest are good as well, they eventually sink in. Not so "No Mermaid" - everything's beautifully crafted, wonderfully arranged and Sinead Lohan's voice is so perfect in context that it's hard to think how the album could be bettered.

Buy this - now. I'm even giving it a 'Flawless' rating, I value it that highly.

There are apparently a couple of versions of this CD available - my 1998 copy features a picture of Sinead on a sofa covered in a striped throw, without titles. There are full lyrics for all of the tracks and a few photos. 

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