Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong, professionally known as Dido, was born Christmas day in 1971. Dido was named after the mythical Queen of Carthage, originally said to be a goddess and ruler of pre-Roman Carthage. Impressive background for such a soft, gentle soul. Dido’s first album “No Angel” was released in 1999, and turned out to be the best selling album of 2001.

Dido’s smouldering sensuality and soulful lyrics  accompanied by her instrumental talent have set the tone for her latest effort, Safe Trip Home. One of my favourites in my “incense and wine” collection. Dido has grown and matured a great deal since the success of “thank you” and one can sense her touch in almost all aspects of this album, track 3 is just simply amazing. Dido bares her heart in her music, and her unique transparency grips you and takes you on a whimsical ride of highs and lows, just with a simple breath, or tone, and her unique way of tickling the ivory’s is powerful, yet playful.

Dido started working on Safe Trip Home in 2005 and contains contributions from Mick Fleetwood, and Matt Chamberlain, and was recorded in London at Abbey Road studios, and Jon Brion’s studio in Los Angeles. And something perhaps not well known, co-wrote the song “I’m not a girl, not yet a woman” with Britney Spears, a worldwide number 1 hit.

Safe Trip Home is a must have in any collection, for die hard fans and especially new ones, for music from the heart has no boundaries.