The modest singer Dido Armstrong owed her international breakthrough to the (much less modest) rapper Eminem, who used Dido's song Thankyou as the basis for his hit Stan. When the success came, it also came en masse: her debut No Angel (2000) is one of the best-selling records ever. The successor Life For Rent (2003) once again managed to match the success of the debut. Subsequently, Dido slowed
… down a bit and worked on the successor Safe Trip Home for no less than five years. A significant change of course cannot be discerned, at most the dance influences have been processed even more subtly. She worked with producer Jon Brion and brother Rollo on a mature soft-pop sound, with plenty of room for strings. Dido spent a lot of time learning to play instruments (better), and she does that not without merit. In the song Quiet Times she can even be heard on the drums. The music is still modest. But despite its understated character, Safe Trip Home sounds like an inspired piece of work. (MS)more
