In Tua Nua

Sinead O'Connor allegedly sang briefly for the Irish septet In Tua Nua. She doesn't appear on The Long Acre, the band's second release, although lead singer Leslie Dowdall is a fairly passionate vocalist in her own right. Produced by the noted Don Dixon, In Tua Nua blended alternative rock with more traditional instrumentation including Lovely Previn, who plays violin, and Brian O'Braian, who adds pipes, whistles, and saxophone. The album's eleven tracks mainly have a bead on radio and, basically, the band fell somewhere between other Irish acts Hothouse Flowers and The Corrs, musically. "Woman On Fire" opens things with a violin-driven, quick-paced tale of destructive devotion delivered fiercely by Dowdall. "The Innocent And The Honest Ones" is anchored by an insistent drumbeat and punctuated by violin and fluid guitar work from Martin Clancy and Jack Dublin. Other notable cuts include "All I Wanted," "Some Things Never Change," and the catchy "Don't Fear Me Now." The Long Acre has plenty of hooks and, although they don't sink too deep, it's still worth a listen. ~ Tom Demalon, All Music Guide