The Independent
September 18, 1994, Sunday

Records: New releases


    Sinead O'Connor: Universal Mother (Ensign, CD/LP/tape). Apart from shredding
photos of the Pope, huffing out of tribute concerts and guesting with Roger
Waters and Peter Gabriel, what has she actually done since ''Nothing Compares 2
U''? This album is the answer, and it's a complete vindication. All her turmoil
about child abuse, woman abuse and Ireland abuse is here in black and white.
Universal Mother puts its cards on the table with an opening speech from
Germaine Greer, and kicks into the strident funk of ''Fire on Babylon''.
Sweetness follows in two exquisite lullabies, kept from sickliness by their
honesty and the quiet clarity of the instrumentation. ''Red Football'' is
''Wooden Heart'' taken to extremes, starting winsome but growing into a
terrifying rock opera, and the intensity is kept up by Nirvana's ''All
Apologies''. As a low guitar lurks, O'Connor's fragile voice barely contains the
anguish that explodes in Kurt Cobain's rendition. After that, the materials get
back to your basic loveliness, which is something of a relief, before the roused
finale of ''Famine'', a Republican rap, and the frail ''Thankyou for Hearing
Me''. A harrowing and beautiful album. Nicholas Barber