Amidst all of the excitement surrounding the new Justin Timberlake album, I completely forgot that Dido's highly anticipated fourth record, Girl Who Got Away, was being released next Tuesday! Whoopsie! While I admittedly wasn't too crazy about 2008's Safe Trip Home (slash I don't remember a single song from the album), this new one actually sounds like it could be more like the old school Dido I fell in love with on 1999's No Angel. Girl Who Got Away, Dido's first album with RCA Records, is out here in America tomorrow, March 26th.
Released March 4th in the UK (where it peaked at #5 on the UK Albums Chart), Girl Who Got Away reunites Dido and her brother (and long-time collaborator) Rollo Armstrong, who produced a majority of the album's eleven tracks. In addition to the multi-talented Rollo Armstrong, Dido also joined forces with a team of hitmakers including Brian Eno (U2, Grace Jones), Jeff Bhasker (Natalia Kills, fun.), Rick Nowels (Lykke Li, Madonna) and Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, P!nk); all of whom come together to create one of Dido's most sonically-diverse album, yet one that feels distinctly Dido. Girl Who Got Away offers listeners a little bit of everything, mixing in multiple genres including folk, hip-hop, ambient and dance, all with (sometimes not-so) subtle electronic undertones. The most surprising track on the album--promo single "Let Us Move On," featuring the talents American rapper Kendrick Lamar. One can't help but compare it to Dido's last foray into hip-hop; "Stan" by Eminem, which featured a sample of her U.S. breakout hit "Thank You."
The album's lead single, "No Freedom," (iTunes) was written by Dido and Rick Nowels and produced by the very same trio. It's your standard Dido pop ballad - light and airy. Very pretty. Recorded in Los Angeles, Dido has said publicly that the song is one of her favorites to date. The Ethan Lader-directed music video (SEE BELOW) was released March 4th, the same day as the album's UK release. Following it's UK release, "No Freedom" entered the UK Singles Chart at #69, ultimately peaking #51. The single also featured a set of stunning dance remixes by Benny Benassi and Tom Swoon. Also worth checking out, a more stripped back, chill remix by j.viewz.
According to the PR:
"The album...is a captivating collection of well-crafted songs and stunning production: from the euphoric “Go Dreaming,” to the barbed wit of “End of Night,” the folky “Sitting On The Roof Of The World” to the dance-y-yet-dark“Blackbird” to the album's title track which Dido shares: "It's one of my favorite songs on the record," she says. “...but I guess it also sums up the last few years for me. Taking a step back from it all and going off to have the whole happy adventure of starting a family and making an album that I really am so proud of. And now I just can't wait for people to hear it."While I was secretly hoping for some seriously up-tempo bangers, I don't know what I was thinking. This is Dido we're talking about! Dido's music is chill, relaxed, dark and haunting. Guess I'll have to wait for her singles to get remixed to hear those up-tempo bangers I was hoping for. That's OK. Speaking of singles, Dido announced her second single on Twitter recently, naming the Greg Kurstin-produced/co-written "End of Night" as the official follow up to "No Freedom."
In total, Dido has sold over 29 million albums worldwide, including No Angel and follow up, Life For Rent. While you're waiting, listen to the album in its entirety over on Amazon and pick up your copy when it's released on Tuesday.
iTunes (Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition) | Amazon (Standard Edition, Deluxe Edition)
Track-listing:
1. “No Freedom”
2. “Girl Who Got Away”
3. “Let Us Move On" (feat. Kendrick Lamar)
4. “Blackbird”
5. “End of Night”
6. “Sitting On The Roof Of The World"
7. “Love To Blame”
8. “Go Dreaming"
9. “Happy New Year”
10. “Loveless Hearts”
11. “Day Before We Went To War”
Deluxe edition includes:
12. “Let Us Move On” (featuring Kendrick Lamar) (Produced by Jeff Bhasker and Plain Pat)
13. “All I See” (featuring Pete Miser)
14. “Just Say Yes”
15. “Let’s Run Away”
16. “Everything to Lose” (Armin Vann Buuren remix)
17. “Lost”
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