Pros Skye Edwards' vocals, lyrics, music, and emotion
Cons NONE
The Bottom Line Brilliant example of genre-splitting music.
Full Review
My most recent musical obsession is a little British band that goes by the name of Morcheeba. A few weeks ago, I reviewed their most recent album. Today, I’m proud to bring my opinion of Big Calm.
Released in 1998, the album marked the band’s second full release since their formation three years earlier in London. It would be easy to throw Morcheeba in with trip-hop. But, there’s so much more to say about them. The main focus is on ethereal vocalist Skye Edwards. She’s got an amazing range in her delicate and emotional voice. The rest of the band consists of Russ Godfrey (who plays all of the real instruments ranging from guitar to piano to drums), Paul Godfrey (drums, programming), and finally Pete Norris (programming, synthesizers).
The result of these four lovely musicians is a smooth, friendly, and ultimately nearly perfect experiment in making music. Morcheeba creates songs ranging from folk to typical trip-hop and everything in between. Between the band’s three brilliant albums (yes, I’m including the more commercial and less creative third release Fragments of Freedom in that equation) there’s a song for every listener. It’s impossible to not appreciate Edwards’ uniquely exquisite handling of vocals and emotion.
Big Calm is a mature album from a fresh sounding band unlike anything that America has had the pleasure to produce. The band initially gained acceptance following the success of their first album 1996’s Who Can You Trust?. Big Calm further exemplifies the reason why people should (and do) enjoy everything about Morcheeba. Smoothly confident and aurally agreeable, this second effort is also the best from the band often pigeonholed simply as trip-hop. They have so much more to offer the musical world than just a title. So much.
Of the twelve songs on this album, the one most identifiable is the fourth. ”Blindfold” is widely recognized by fans as one of the band’s best. As with the rest of Morcheeba’s songs, I find myself swept away to a melancholy, carefree place. Edwards’ vocals offer great inflection…something that is desperately lacking from much of today’s pop music. She sounds as though she feels, she bleeds, and she cries. Yet, you get the feeling that she really doesn’t care much in the long run. Simply impressive are the understated keyboards and programming. I’m simply in awe of this track. But, alas, there are better examples from Morcheeba…on this album even!
On Over and Over it’s easy to fall in love with Edwards’ soft whispers and Russ Godfrey’s light acoustic guitar. The addition of orchestral instruments is nothing short of brilliant. Sometimes when a band attempts something abnormal, the result is cliché and lackluster. This track, on the other hand, ends up sounding lovelier with each listen. For fans of pseudo-cool music chicks embraced by VH1, this song and this album on the whole should prove to be a great eye opener.
Part of the Process is a shining example of when good music goes folk. I’m not a huge fan of folk (or the fiddle…used throughout this track), but in this case as done by Morcheeba I’m thoroughly impressed and in love with Edwards and the restrained instruments. I can easily see this song as part of a soundtrack. The band should be proud of this effort and listeners will surely be dumbstruck by its astonishing quality.
The Caribbean beats of Friction are a great variation from the other styles presented on Big Calm. Edwards grooves along to slow reggae beats mixed with typical trip-hop constructs. I’m not as keen on this track as I am on some of the others, but the different style is of importance and note.
Fear and Love is the last song I’ll talk about. Leisurely lyrical and emotional, Edwards once again sounds like a princess. The mixture of a trumpet, classical stringed instruments, and subtle programming makes this another one of those easily accessible and very listen able tracks that Morcheeba is best known for creating. They are certainly a force to be reckoned with if Big Calm and the songs it contains are any measure of talent.
Each of the twelve songs on Big Calm builds upon the last. Morcheeba presents listeners with an overall feeling and vision. There are few bands that can really achieve such a feat. From the rapping on the title track to the instrumental Bullet Proof I’m bowled over by Morcheeba’s greatness. Yes, you just heard that correctly. The thing that really draws me to the British foursome is Edwards. I usually don’t like female vocalists as much as male. In this case, Edwards proves my theory wrong. She is truly something special.
It seems irrelevant for me to say that I recommend this album. Anybody who so much as listened to Big Calm once couldn’t help but recommend it. And, with that much said I will also award this album the highest honor I can bestow. 5/5 stars. Run, don’t walk, over to Amazon.com and pick up this album. You won’t be disappointed.
Track Listing:
1. Sea, The
2. Shoulder Holster
3. Part Of The Process
4. Blindfold
5. Let Me See
6. Bullet Proof
7. Over & Over
8. Friction
9. Diggin' A Watery Grave
10. Fear & Love
11. Big Calm
12. The Music We Hear - (bonus track)
* Not that you should care, but in the future expect a review of Morcheeba’s debut album Who Can You Trust?. For a look at the least popular and least creative release from the band check out my review of Fragments of Freedom located here: http://www.epinions.com/content_55031205508
Muze: Copyright 1995 - 2008 Muze Inc. For personal non-commercial use only. All rights reserved.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2008 Shopping.com, Inc.