The Toronto Star
November 6, 1987, Friday, FINAL EDITION

Celtic roots inspire U2 protege

By Greg Quill Toronto Star


   * The Lion And The Cobra Sinead O'Connor (Chrysalis/MCA): Touted as a
discovery of U2's Bono, this 20-year-old Dublin singer/writer has prepared a
debut album that is both stirring and disturbing. Relying as much on distant
Celtic roots (some ballads use eerie tribal scales) as she does on contemporary
pop (she wrote for Irish band In Tua Nua and collaborates with U2's The Edge and
with the bands Max and The Colourfield), O'Connor has created something quite
rare here, an engaging musical hybrid that's difficult to define and equally
difficult to ignore. Her voice is haunting, occasionally raw and powerful, and
her songs mysteriously pretty.