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Even though Morcheeba were one of the later, straggling entries in the trip-hop phenomenon, their previous albums succeed because of the interplay between Skye Edwards' sweetly sensual, airy voice and the band's correspondingly mellow grooves. Unfortunately, their third album, Fragments of Freedom, scraps most of their signature sound for half-baked experiments in R&B, acid jazz, and hip-hop. Though it's certainly understandable that the group would want to move away from the dead-and-buried trip-hop sound that defined them originally, it seems that Morcheeba are just using bands like Brand New Heavies and M People as sonic templates instead of Tricky and Portishead. The bland, overly slick production softens any impact that soulless soul songs such as "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" and "Love Is Rare" might have had, and while Edwards may be blessed with a soulful voice, she's unconvincing belting out pseudo-sultry lyrics like "Is that a rocket in your pocket?" The group's misguided forays into hip-hop are even worse; Mr. Complex's guest rap on "Love Sweet Love" sounds like it was surgically grafted from another track entirely, and while Bahamadia's appearance on "Good Girl Down"'s celebration of sisterhood makes more sense, it still sounds out of place with Edwards' essentially refined, delicate style. Not every song on Fragments of Freedom is ill conceived, however; the opening track, "World Looking In," ranks among their finest, and the steel drum instrumental "A Well Deserved Break" is pretty and refreshing. Despite its annoying, overpowering synth bass, "Shallow End" boasts a lilting, seductive melody that showcases Edwards' voice instead of fighting against it, and the title track is a pleasant enough piece of trip-hop pastiche. But for the most part, Fragments of Freedom's contrived attempts to bring the funk to Morcheeba's sound are as fake and painful as a forced smile.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
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S. Edwards, Writer - R. Godfrey, Writer - P. Godfrey, Writer - Paul Godfrey, Beats and Scratches Beats - Ross Godfrey, Guitar, Keyboards - Derek Green., Backing Vocals - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye, Vocals - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
S. Edwards, Writer - Godfrey, Composer - R. Godfrey, Writer - P. Godfrey, Writer - Paul Godfrey, Composer, Beats and Scratches Beats - Ross Godfrey, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye, Vocals - Skye Edwards, Composer - Martin Carling., Drums - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Gordon., Bass Guitar - Steve Bentley-Klein., Violin - Steve Sidwell, Trumpet - Derek Green , Backing Vocals - Dee Lewis, Backing Vocals - Joy Rose, Backing Vocals - Paul Jason Fredericks, Backing Vocals
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
S. Edwards, Composer, Lyricist - R. Godfrey, Composer, Lyricist - P. Godfrey, Composer, Lyricist - Paul Godfrey, Composer, Arranger - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Derek Green., Backing Vocals - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Martin Carling., Drums - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Secon, Composer - M Power, Composer - R Blackwood, Composer - Giscombe, Composer - Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris, Arranger - T Mais, Composer - Mario Castronari., Double Bass
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Derek Green, Dee Lewis and Weston Foster., Backing Vocals
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Chris "Pitta" Harrison., Beats - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Gordon., Bass Guitar - Fimber Bravo., Steel Drums
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Martin Carling., Drums - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Gordon., Bass Guitar - DJ Crossphader., Scratching - Derek Green and Dee Lewis., Backing Vocals - Mr Complex., Rap Vocals
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Biz Markie, Rap Vocals, FeaturedArtist
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Derek Green., Backing Vocals - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Martin Carling., Drums - Natalia Bonner., Violin - Noel Vine., Violin - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Gordon., Bass Guitar
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
S. Edwards, Writer - Godfrey, Composer - R. Godfrey, Writer - P. Godfrey, Writer - Paul Godfrey, Composer, Beats and Scratches Beats - Ross Godfrey, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards - Robinson, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye, Vocals - Skye Edwards, Composer - DJ First Rate., Scratching - Martin Carling., Drums - Natalia Bonner., Violin - Noel Vine., Violin - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Gordon., Bass Guitar - Tony Wall and Adam Jarrett., Backing Vocals
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Dan Goldman., Hammond C3 Organ - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Gordon., Bass Guitar
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Antonia Reed, Composer - Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Martin Carling., Drums - Natalia Bonner., Violin - Noel Vine., Violin - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Bahamadia, Composer, Rap Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mario Castronari., Double Bass - Joy Rose., Backing Vocals
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Godfrey, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Composer - Ross Godfrey, Composer - Edwards, Composer - Morcheeba, MainArtist - Skye Edwards, Composer - Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey and Pete Norris., Produced, Arranged & Mixed by - Steve Bentley-Klein., Mandolin - Paul Bevan., Recorder - William Lyons., Recorder
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
Album review
Even though Morcheeba were one of the later, straggling entries in the trip-hop phenomenon, their previous albums succeed because of the interplay between Skye Edwards' sweetly sensual, airy voice and the band's correspondingly mellow grooves. Unfortunately, their third album, Fragments of Freedom, scraps most of their signature sound for half-baked experiments in R&B, acid jazz, and hip-hop. Though it's certainly understandable that the group would want to move away from the dead-and-buried trip-hop sound that defined them originally, it seems that Morcheeba are just using bands like Brand New Heavies and M People as sonic templates instead of Tricky and Portishead. The bland, overly slick production softens any impact that soulless soul songs such as "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" and "Love Is Rare" might have had, and while Edwards may be blessed with a soulful voice, she's unconvincing belting out pseudo-sultry lyrics like "Is that a rocket in your pocket?" The group's misguided forays into hip-hop are even worse; Mr. Complex's guest rap on "Love Sweet Love" sounds like it was surgically grafted from another track entirely, and while Bahamadia's appearance on "Good Girl Down"'s celebration of sisterhood makes more sense, it still sounds out of place with Edwards' essentially refined, delicate style. Not every song on Fragments of Freedom is ill conceived, however; the opening track, "World Looking In," ranks among their finest, and the steel drum instrumental "A Well Deserved Break" is pretty and refreshing. Despite its annoying, overpowering synth bass, "Shallow End" boasts a lilting, seductive melody that showcases Edwards' voice instead of fighting against it, and the title track is a pleasant enough piece of trip-hop pastiche. But for the most part, Fragments of Freedom's contrived attempts to bring the funk to Morcheeba's sound are as fake and painful as a forced smile.
© Heather Phares /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:44:16
- Main artists: Morcheeba
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EastWest U.K.
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2000 China Records Ltd ℗ 2000 China Records Ltd
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