Morcheeba
Parts Of The Process

THE REVIEW

Here I am back in the role of reviewer after just over two months from my last review. And I return to review an album that has been firmly lodged in my player since February. So why have I been caught up in Hamlet-like doubts until now? To review or not to review, that is the question! Jokes aside, the fact is that I have before me a CD that I like, that excites me, that relaxes me, that moves me, and yet... and yet what do I really know about Morcheeba? Very little. And that's because before the year 2000 I didn't even know them, and afterward, I always snubbed them, somewhat misled by "Rome wasn't built in a day," a summer hit to forget from a memorable summer! I don't even know why I convinced myself that they were a group that churned out annoying summer hits with ridiculous videos. And with this idea, I started listening to this best-of album. My opinion then changed, but the fundamental question remains: who are Morcheeba?

This very best-of album is useful to retrace their history and get a general idea of their musical journey. First of all, a question that may have crossed the minds of many but which, as far as I'm concerned, remains unanswered: what does Morcheeba mean??! I've exhausted all my linguistic knowledge but I have absolutely no idea (if anyone knows and would be so kind as to tell me, I'd be grateful). That being said, Morcheeba was long composed of Paul and Ross Godfrey (two chubby brothers from Folkestone) and Shirley Klarisse Yonavive Edwards (or Skye... luckily she shortened the name, otherwise by the time they announced her name at concerts, people would have already gone home!). The "Morcheeba" adventure begins in the distant 1995 when the three meet at a party. From the sum and mixture of their different musical influences (hip-hop, blues, rock), a particular style is born, not comparable to the Bristol sound of Massive Attack (with whom they only share the use of electronics and some atmospheres) but neither is it simple chart pop. Thus were born the first hits gathered in their first album, "Who can you trust," great songs like "Trigger Hippie" and "Tape Loop." In total, this best-of, released in 2003, contains 18 tracks, from their very first hits to the unreleased tracks "What's your name" (the first English question learned in elementary school behind which hides a lively and cheerful song in collaboration with Daddy Kane) and "Can't stand it" which I personally find rather bland. It's impossible not to mention songs from "Big Calm," a 1998 album that only yesterday became part of my collection. From this album, we find a good 5 songs in the best-of. I want to particularly mention "The Sea," dedicated to Hythe, the place where Paul was born, "Let me see," recently used for an advertisement, confirming the great appeal of some of their songs (I don't know about you, but I, without having the slightest idea of either the title or the authors, hummed it around the house... you can imagine my surprise when I accidentally discovered it on this CD!) and last but not least "Blindfold," a song that I simply adore, a song I could write a book about. It helped me out of a period when I saw everything as dark because, perhaps it was Skye's sunny voice, perhaps it was these wonderful violins that are the protagonists of the transition from verse to chorus, perhaps because I really "became attached" to this song, but just putting it in the player was enough for me to already feel better, forget all my problems for at least 4 minutes and 38 seconds and start smiling again. The power of music! 

Before concluding, I would still like to mention "Be yourself" with its contagious and catchy chorus and Skye's duet with folk singer Kurt Wagner "What New York couples fight about", six minutes in which Skye's sweet voice contrasts with Wagner's somewhat tired, at times languid, voice. In short, it's a great CD, at times not exactly easy with episodes like "Moog Island" and "Never An Easy Way" which, although valuable, are far from catchy. A CD I recommend to those who don't know much about Morcheeba and want to get a general idea of this band that had the ability to blend various genres and continuously innovate their style through new explorations and challenges. The question remains whether, ten years after their formation, after Skye's departure, and after the rather modest result of "The Antidote," they will still be able to innovate. The verdict is for future generations to decide.