Hazel O’Connor - Hidden Heart (Invisible Hands)

Anyone that spots this album in light of Hazel O’Connor’s recent ITV appearance on the 80s throwback-a-thon Hit Me Baby One More Time will be sorely disappointed. Disappointed because there’s nothing remotely cheesy or Saturday night about it.

In fact there’s nothing particularly retro about Hidden Heart either. It begins as a fresh, understated combination of electro beats and Celtic atmospheres which – combined with Hazel’s voice that has aged well – makes for an almost psychedelic/acid folk vibe. It then moves onto a lilting if perfunctionary set of blues originals.

This is an album that takes its time - it doesn’t rush to impress, and is clearly a labour of love both for the singer, her producer Martin Rushent, long term collaborator Cormac De Barra and his “trusty harp Matilda”. There are also some new collaborators, like Clannad’s Moya Brennan and Tony Dangerfield whose Subterraneans played with Hazel at Glastonbury last year.

Aside from the collab with Moya Brennan, standout songs include I’ll See You Again, Strong and Lovable, the latter of which explore this blues territory, where Hazel is now digging a real niche. All of which throws Hit Me Baby One More Time to the wayside. Forget the ITV cheese and give it a try.