Sadly, I write this on the day we learn that Sinéad O'Connor has passed away.
I talked about her covers earlier in this blog, but she was a tremendous songwriter in her own right. I became a committed fan when I saw her at a festival in 1994 or maybe 1995 when she was promoting Universal Mother, having previously only known her own song Mandinka, and Nothing Compares 2 U, the cover that made her famous.
I was knocked over by this performance of melodic music somehow influenced by folk and dub at the same time.
This track is the final climax of Universal Mother. It has a folky melodic feel, but with a reggae-driven bassline. Her band at this time were awesome, including long-time collaborators John Reynolds on drums, and Clare Kenny on bass.
Reynolds was O'Connor's producer, and musical director for live shows. And indeed he was also her ex-husband (presumably the person referred to in another favourite, This Is The Last Day of Our Acquaintance. He remained in her bands until the end, and is credited as co-writer with O'Connor on this track.
The song is based on her then recent breakup with Peter Gabriel.
B-side was a 13-minute remix of Fire In Babylon, another track from Universal Mother. I've not heard this remix, but the idea of a 13-minute version of that song certainly whets the appetite, so I'll be checking it out.
RIP Sinéad O'Connor 1966-2023
