No Angel [Import Bonus CD/Bonus Tracks]

Personnel: Dido (vocals, recorder, keyboards); Rick Nowels (acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer piano, Chamberlin, keyboards); Paulie Herman (guitar, harmonica); John Themis (electric guitar, percussion); Rusty Anderson, Martin McCory (electric guitar); Dave Randall (guitar); Mark Felton (harmonica); Mark Bates (piano, Wurlitzer piano, organ, keyboards); Paul Statham (piano, keyboards); Duncan Bridgeman, Peter Vittese (keyboards, programming); Sister Bliss, Bruce Aisher (keyboards); Aubrey Nunn, Tim Vogt, Youth, John Pierce (bass); Richie Stevens, Geoff Dugmore (drums, percussion); Matty Benbrook (drums, programming); Mal Hyde Smith, Sudha (percussion); Rollo, James Sanger, Jony Rockstar, Nick Manasseh (programming); Pauline Taylor, Rachel Brown, Aquila (background vocals).
Producers include: Rick Nowels, Dido, Rollo, Duncan Bridgeman, Sister Bliss.
Engineers include: Ash Howes, Phill Brown, Goetz.
Personnel: Dido (vocals, recorder, keyboards); Paul Herman (guitar, harmonica); Dave Randall, Ian Dench (guitar); Rick Nowels (acoustic guitar, Wurlitzer organ, chamberlin, keyboards); John Themis (electric guitar, percussion); Rusty Anderson (electric guitar); Mark Felton (harmonica); Mark Bates (piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, programming); Paul Statham (piano, keyboards, programming); Duncan Bridgeman (keyboards, programming); Bruce Aisher, MJ Cole, Sister Bliss, John Deley (keyboards); Alex Alexander (drums, djembe); Richie Stevens , Geoff Dugmore, Jody Linscott (drums, percussion); Matt Benbrook (drums, programming); Sudha , Mal Hyde Smith (percussion); Nick Mannaseh, Johnny Rockstar, Pascal Gabriel, Rollo , James Sanger (programming); Pete Miser (turntables); Rachael Brown, Pauline Taylor (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Yan Memmi; Deep Dish; Dido; Goetz; Grippa; Hugoth Nicolson; Phill Brown; Richard Morel; Rollo ; Ash Howes; Lukas Burton.
Audio Remixers: Dubfire; MJ Cole; Rollo ; Sharam; Sister Bliss; Lukas Burton.
Recording information: Angel Studios (07/08/2001); Ark Studios (07/08/2001); Deep Dish Studios, MD (07/08/2001); Eden (07/08/2001); Olympic (07/08/2001); Sarm west (07/08/2001); Swanyard (07/08/2001); The Church (07/08/2001).
Photographers: Ellen Von Unwerth; Andrew Southam.
Arranger: Pauline Taylor.
The title notwithstanding, this debut from the former Faithless singer is pretty angelic-sounding stuff. You're bound to think of Sinéad O'Connor, but the comparison is as misleading as it is inevitable. Granted, Dido's ethereal vocals here frequently recall O'Connor; but Dido's music -- while inventively augmented with electronics -- is generally less adventurous. Ditto No Angel's lyrics, which focus almost exclusively on love, lust, and relationships. That said, the fact remains that this is an auspicious and highly listenable album -- atmospheric, seductive, and beautifully produced and sequenced. [The late 2001 re-release features several bonus tracks and a bonus CD with audio and video tracks, including "Take My Hand," "Christmas Day," and remixes of "Here with Me," "Thank You," "Hunter," and "Take My Hand."] ~ Jeff Burger