Roisin Murphy
Overpowered

THE REVIEW

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."