Tanya Donelly - 'Whiskey Tango Ghosts' (4AD) Released 26/06/04

Ex-Belly songstress Tanya Donelly is keeping it in the family with this, her third solo album, recorded earlier this year near her Massachusetts home with husband Dean Fisher on guitar, bass and drums, as well as the (duly noted) songwriting credit here and there.

It’s an intrinsically personal album, with songs about life ('Every Devil'), love ('The Promise'), motherhood ('My Life As A Ghost') and lifelong friendship ('Just In Case You Quit Me') wrapped up in sensual, stripped-down arrangements and executed to perfection by Donelly’s sensual, resonant voice, which has led to more-than-favourable comparisons with the critically-acclaimed Damien Rice.

Musical comparisons aside, it seems as though Donelly is on a quest to find balance, with songs like 'Golden Mean' and 'The Center' referring to the struggles of relationships and the fear of losing control. 'Butterfly Thing' is an obvious favourite, examining the philosophical in its discussion of chaos theory, while 'Fall Out' is a veritable heartbreaker, its fragile lyrics facing up to the inevitable and with echoes of Sheryl Crow both lyrically and in every stroke of the guitar.

'Whiskey Tango Ghosts' has an autobiographical feel, but it’s not all about the personal – Donelly’s mission is to help the listener relate to her songs. Sounds like it shouldn’t be too hard to achieve – with songs across the emotional spectrum, Tanya Donelly’s poetic lyrics and enchanting voice will strike a chord with anyone with a heart.