Currently Playing How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb By U2 One Step Closer see related

The MPO International Composers Award finals last night was a wonderful experience. Kee-Yong of Malaysia won. It was fairly judged by the Australian violist and composer Brett Dean.

My personal favourite was the piece by Germany's Moritz Eggert, depicting the sinking of a German ship in Scapa Flow during World War I. It reminded me of Shostakovich, my favourite composer. Moritz won the audience award, in which everyone gets a vote.

Anyway, before the concert I managed to pick up U2's latest album How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb from Tower Records. It's quite amazing actually, despite bad reviews in today's Star paper

A very personal album, it's dedicated to Bono's father, Robert Hewson, who died in 2001. Throughout the songs, there is a sense of age setting in, and it's somewhat deeper and darker than 2000's All That You Can't Leave Behind. Spiritual themes in this album tend to probe the 'Father' side of God.

If you don't have it, do drop by www.u2.com and listen online to Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Crumbs from Your Table, Original of the Species and Yahweh.

Looking forward to d'NA... only 108 hours to go!