No Shine For Sinead

Why did Sinead O' Connor not move me last night? I normally care for the music, the voice, the style and the rage. She was excellent last year at Oxygen, and I've seen her in magisterial form at Glastonbury, the Dominion Theatre, the National Boxing Stadium and the Finsbury Park Fleadh. Even the legendary appearance at the Madison Square Garden in 1992, booed and barracked by intolerant Bob Dylan fans was equal to the legend. I've never seen a bad one.

But at the Waterfront with the Ulster Orchestra, it didn't fizz. There were a few moments near the end of 'The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance' when she took the music soaring into the ether. But for such a rarefied event, there was a dreary 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' and a shockingly drab 'Nothing Compares 2 U', minus all the high notes.

She seemed distanced while the orchestra also felt muted and at times, superfluous. The young Sinead often used a couple of chords with her music, and there's only so much pizzicato you an embellish that with. And oddly, her voice was down in the mix. Compare this to the recent show by Bjork in the same venue and there's a huge chasm between their audacity and commitment.

Last year's Orchestral Manoeuvres gig was thrilling because Foy Vance and Duke Special were working to a budget and an expansive palette that was previously denied to them. You felt their excitement. But Sinead has already been scored by Phil Ramone, Craig Armstrong, Fiacra Trench and more. This time, she didn't feel it, and neither did we.