Damien Rice - '9 Crimes' (14th Floor) Released 27/11/06

Damien Rice's latest album '9' ushers the single '9 Crimes' - a confessional duet with Lisa Hannigan tackling the grit in the knees of self-reproach, guilt and regret set to lugubrious piano and Vyvienne Long on cello. With a flesh-searing intensity that'll speak to consciences of amorous misdemeanors and the concurrent guilt - "...it's a small crime/ and I've got no excuse/ is that all right yeah/ to give my gun away when it's loaded...", the duet entangled and sorrowful. 'The Rat Within The Grain' comes across as a tune pickpocketted from Simon and Garfunkel's '50 Ways To Lose Your Lover' - "...in truth I only really wanted to be wanted by you..." with a dainty melody of solo acoustic guitar more akin to the Irish folk tradition and Damien's twist of expression on 'wanting'. Two songs well penned, to be sure.