Morcheeba
Fragments of Freedom
(Sire)
By: Jeff Leisawitz - ModernRock.com
You might think of Morcheeba as the downtempo trio from the UK that broke into the scene with the breakthrough hit, "Trigger Hippie." While this description would be fairly accurate, it still wouldn't quite justify the band's 2000 release, Fragments of Freedom.
On this disc the melancholy is dropped to the back burner. Instead, our sullen heroes open the shades and begin to shine. Yes, there are moments of darkness, but the overwhelming vibe of this disc is upbeat.
Tracks like "Love is Rare" spout a message of hope and responsibility. "You all know, you better beware/ Treat me with respect because love is rare." It's not a cry of desperation. Rather, these words show us how empowered Skye, the singer, has become. She hooks your ears and heart with her soulful voice while the brothers Godfrey lay down a slick, funky backdrop that works miracles in the living room, in the headphones and on the dance floor.
The feel good vibe continues through many of these tracks. Although "Let it Go" ends with a spoken word sample about kids and guns, "A Well Deserved Break" somehow fuses a calypso groove with a bluesy guitar. It's all in good fun. And it make for some interesting transitions.
For this CD, Morcheeba invited some guests into the studio. "Love Sweet Love" features a hot rap by Mr. Complex, "In the Hands of the Gods" gives Biz Markie a shot at the mic and "Good Girl Down" antes up a spot by Bahamadia.
Other stand out tracks include the nouveau disco of "Shallow End," the quirk happy party music of "Be Yourself" and the title track.
Morcheeba's long time fans may be looped by the outward pleasure seeking, slinky beats and nearly carefree attitude of Fragments of Freedom. It may not be the perfect soundtrack for harsh break ups, thunderstorms or caffeine crashes. But if you try these tunes when the sun is shining or before heading out the door on a Friday night, you just might find that these songs spin up a little magic.
Check out Morcheeba's web site at www.morcheeba.net
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