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Roisin Murphy is one of the most talented artists in the electronic/pop scene of the recent decades. A very beautiful and fascinating woman, she combines a cold, snobbish appearance with a deep and warm voice. She debuted as one half of the duo Moloko, who gained popularity between the late '90s and the start of the new millennium (how could we forget "Sing It Back" and "Forever More"), and in 2005 she began her solo career with the album "Ruby Blue." Her major success came in 2007 with the release of her second solo album "Overpowered," a true gem of electronic pop blending dance and soul influences.
The work opens with the first single that shares the album's name, characterized by a measured pace and a rhythm marked by deep electronic beats that create a dance cavalcade upon which her voice at times becomes crystal clear, at other times more mysterious. "Let me Know," the second single, is a mix of almost funky sounds blended with '90s dance and a particular "trash" attitude (in a positive sense); a trait that characterizes many tracks on the album (one above all, "You Know Me Better"). How could we not mention the synthesizer extravaganza of "Movie Star" or the dance-driven and power-packed "Cry Baby." However, among all these expressly pop tracks, there are also more refined pieces, where electronics bend to the rhythms of soul, and in some cases, jazz. "Primitive" is dark and enchanting, with her voice becoming deep and sensual; "Dear Miami," a strangely melancholic piece, where broken beats serve as a backdrop to one of the album's highest vocal moments, and "Checkin' On Me" is rhythmic and adequately "dark."
A complex album, where Roisin Murphy's voice dissolves the boundaries that distinguish different genres, and everything blends and confuses, into a sophisticated and cultured "pastiche" that showcases this woman's great talent.
Ps: Recommended to also listen to the B-sides "Sunshine" and "Pandora."
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Overpowered (05:08)
When I think that I'm over you
I'm overpowered
Your data my data
The chromosomes match
Exact as in matter
A matter of fact
These amaranth feelings
A cognitive state
Need the love object
To reciprocate
When I think that I'm over you
I'm overpowered
It's long overdue
I'm overpowered
When I think that I'm over you
I'm overpowered
It's long overdue
I'm overpowered
As science struggles on to try to explain
Oxy-toxin's flowing ever into my brain
As science struggles on to try to explain
Oxy-toxin's flowing ever into my brain
A chemical reason
If reason's your game
A chemical needing
Is there in the brain
With preprogrammed meanings
Like a little more pep
Alien feelings
We have to accept
When I think that I'm over you
I'm overpowered
It's long overdue
I'm overpowered
When I think that I'm over you
I'm overpowered
It's long overdue
I'm overpowered
As science struggles on to try to explain
Oxy-toxin's flowing ever into my brain
As science struggles on to try to explain
Oxy-toxin's flowing ever into my brain
I'm overpowered
03 Checkin' on Me (04:39)
It's your uneasy mind
That's been making you blind
I won't lie to you
You've got trouble inside
Baby, I've nothing to hide
I've been good to you
All the way from New York City
Calling me constantly
He's asking if I'm sitting pretty
Waiting patiently
Darling, I would not forsake me
I'm telling you honestly, yeah yeah
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
It's time to set me free
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
How can you judge
If I don't miss you enough?
Any fool can see
If you can't trust yourself
Can't trust nobody else
Did you lie to me?
Yeah, did you lie to me?
Even when we are together
Still the jealousy
You know, I just wanna dance forever
And you wanna take that from me
Suppose you really think you're clever
Stealing my liberty, yeah, yeah
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
It's time to set me free
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
I got much to think about
Looking into you
I need to know when you're going out
And all the things you do
You may not be guilty by default
And have the nerve to question me
When it's you who could get caught
What do you think I'm gonna find
When I'm checkin' up on you?
Maybe you've got something to hide
Though I think I always knew
What do you think I'm gonna find
When I'm checkin' up on you?
Maybe you've got something to hide
Though I think I always knew
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
It's time to set me free
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
It's time to set me free
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
It's time to set me free
What do you think you're gonna find
Checkin' up on me?
Baby, you've got a troubled mind
04 Let Me Know (05:09)
I turn the other way
I'll never turn you down
You turn me on
Don't speak out every meaning
I don't belong to you
You don't belong to me
So don't hold on too tightly...
Let me know when you're lonely babe
Let me know when you're lonely babe
Happier now than I've been in the past
Gone are the days
Gone are the tears
That was a girl I used to be
The girl that you now see standing in front of you
Could keep going on
Because she believes
In setting you free
So let me know when you're lonely babe
Let me know when you're lonely baby
Let me know when you're lonely babe
Let me know when you're lonely baby
I turn the other way
I can never turn you down
You turn me on
Don't speak out every meaning
I don't belong to you
Like you don't belong to me
So don't hold on too tightly
Let forever be
So let me know when you're lonely babe
Let me know when you're lonely baby
Let me know when you're lonely babe
Let me know when you're lonely baby
Let me know when you're lonely babe (it might be sweet)
Let me know when you're lonely baby (if we could meet)
Let me know when you're lonely babe (along the way)
Let me know when you're lonely baby (that could be okay)
They're all the same in this cynical age
I won't be
Your ball and chain
I risk my reputation
Just to get a room
You always have the reservation
So come lie down beside me (so let me know when you're lonely babe)
(Let me know when you're lonely baby) Beside me
(Let me know when you're lonely babe) Beside me
(Let me know when you're lonely baby) Beside me
So let me know when you're lonely babe (it might be sweet)
Let me know when you're lonely baby (if we could meet)
Let me know when you're lonely babe (along the way)
Let me know when you're lonely baby (that could be okay)
That could be okay
It might be sweet
If we could meet
Along the way
That could be okay
05 Movie Star (04:01)
I'm a trusting soul not ashamed of living dangerously
And I'm a headstrong girl, I'm afraid I won't be told
I feel my destiny is only 'round the corner
Sugar daddy promised me I'll be sitting on top of the world
He saw my naked ambitions said I would leave them wanting more
That could be crazy wishing we could ever have it all
Have it all, have it all
We'll make a movie, we'll break into cinema
You'll be director and I'll be your movie star
We'll make a movie, the darlings of cinema
You'll be director and I'll be your movie star
So he's a headstrong guy and perhaps I shouldn't listen
There's a million girls wanna be in my position
If he tells me lies I'll suspend my disbelieving
I leave it all behind, I ain't asking for permission
Feels like a new beginning and there's so much to explore
It's not so crazy thinking we could really have it all
Have it all, have it all
We'll make a movie, we'll break into cinema
You'll be director and I'll be your movie star
We'll make a movie, the darlings of cinema
You'll be director and I'll be your movie star
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Other reviews
By flood
Despite the dark and hypnotic title track being somewhat misleading, those expecting another entirely dance album might be disappointed or relieved.
To all this, add the usual super-sexy voice that sends hormones skyrocketing, an undeniable interpretative charisma, and that 'indie-friendly' attitude.
