MAKE of him what you will, but there is little doubt Damien Rice knows how to write a tune to tug on the heartstrings. Known for his hiatuses, the gap between his second album and third record is at its widest yet. It has been eight years since 9 – the 2006 follow-up to 2002's stunning debut O – was released and the Irish singer-songwriter, from Kildare, now feels ready to return. The 40-year-old crooner has gone for quality over quantity, choosing just eight tracks. His minimal yet bang-on orchestration turns The Greatest B*****d from a good song into a great one, while epic is the only way to describe the sweeping strings towards the end of Colour Me In, while I Don't Want To Change You is a real highlight and could enjoy the same popularity as Cannonball. Well worth the long wait.

Andrew Carless