... The CD ends with “Fragments of Freedom” with a funky mandolin giving the track a true trip-hop feel and small vocal section declaring “when the party is over you’ve got nowhere to go” a fitting end to the album.
Overall the album has a more commercial edge ... Read review
In which Clapham's dreamiest, downbeatiest, de-loveliest trio takes it uptown, takes it to ... more
the bridge, and even--on the phatter-than-phat "In The Hands Of The Gods"--takes it over to Biz Markie's house. If you aren't frightened of sudden bursts of extr...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In which Clapham's dreamiest, downbeatiest, de-loveliest trio takes it uptown, takes it to ... more
the bridge, and even--on the phatter-than-phat "In The Hands Of The Gods"--takes it over to Biz Markie's house. If you aren't frightened of sudden bursts of extr...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
World looking in Rome wasn't built in a day Love is rare Let it go Well deserved break ... more
Love sweet love - Morcheeba & Mr. Complex In the hands of the gods - Morcheeba & Biz Markie Shallow end Be yourself Coming down gently Good girl down - Morch...
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Advantages: Angelic Vocals Disadvantages: Not for everyone
Easy listening the music genre conjures up all kinds of images in ones mind, but mention a band like Morcheeba and that image may start to disintegrate. On the other hand the music they create, although found in the dance racks of any record store, could definitely considered as lounge music.
This is their third album that develops their mellow sound into a brighter happier sound, but still showing elements of their trip hop origins. ... ...as an angelic voice, and it would be hard to disagree with this argument. A deeply routed lyrical album it is not, but there is still an underlying message to every track.
The album opens with “World Looking In”, a track with an underlying western twang, with a catchy chorus, but not as catchy as the second track almost anthem like in its chorus of “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day,” a feel good track that is ... more
Easy listening the music genre conjures up all kinds of images in ones mind, but mention a band like Morcheeba and that image may start to disintegrate. On the other hand the music they create, although found in the dance racks of any record store, could definitely considered as lounge music.
This is their third album that develops their mellow sound into a brighter happier sound, but still showing elements of their trip hop origins. Skye Edwards Morcheeba’s lead singer has what could be described as an angelic voice, and it would be hard to disagree with this argument. A deeply routed lyrical album it is not, but there is still an underlying message to every track.
The album opens with “World Looking In”, a track with an underlying western twang, with a catchy chorus, but not as catchy as the second track almost anthem like in its chorus of “Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day,” a feel good track that is perhaps the most poppy on the album. The third track “Love is Rare” starts to funk up the pace of the album slightly, and as mentioned earlier the lyrics “treat me with respect because love is rare” although not deeply meaningful, do hold a message. Next “Let it go” a mellow track with a pleasant trumpet and violin section working with the vocals. The Caribbean comes to mind with the fifth track being an instrumental of steel drums, which will probably used by all the holiday programs on TV. The next track virtually erupts after the last and display evidence of 80’s disco samples, broken by the rapping of “Mr Complex” whoever he maybe, and featuring some excellent scratching and gospelesque backing vocals. “In the Hands of Gods” follows that is basically a very short rap track featuring Biz Markie. The eighth track breaks into a funky disco number, featuring a great string section and 70’s style Fender Rhodes Piano and of course Skye Edwards vocals. “Be yourself,” continues the funky theme with the synonymous bass guitar and catchy lyrics and excellent scratching again. (Maybe it’s only excellent because I do not have the skill to do it myself). The scratching continues with the next instrumental track “Coming Down Gently,” with a very familiar sample that I cannot put my finger on, and some trippy samples. The best rap of the album features “Bahamadia” a female rapper in the next track, “Good Girl Down” and breaks up the lead vocals that build from subdued to forceful. The CD ends with “Fragments of Freedom” with a funky mandolin giving the track a true trip-hop feel and small vocal section declaring “when the party is over you’ve got nowhere to go” a fitting end to the album.
Overall the album has a more commercial edge to it than their previous two albums, and some tracks are even designed to dance to. However it will obviously not appeal to everyone, although as background music it is inoffensive. Moreover it is excellently produced and the hooks and melodies are at times catchy. Currently the band fit into a pretty cool genre and “Fragments of Freedom” does nothing to destroy that image. If you have enjoyed Morcheeba’s previous albums then I can recommend this one, if you enjoy dance music and fancy something to chill to then it is also worth a look, otherwise stick to what you know.
Advantages: Skye's voice is still amazing Disadvantages: Not much of what make them so unique
...of equal quality to previous tracks. Morcheeba are unquestionably progressing, mixing their talent with new ideas and managing to pull off great songs. If the next album can hit just somewhere between Fragments of Freedom and Big Calm, it may just be the greatest album for any fan to own. ...
Gingergal 09.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Fragments Of Freedom - Morcheeba
Advantages: Skye is still singing Disadvantages: A little bit too Disco on some tracks
What a difference a few years make, it's still the same Morcheeba, the same smooth vocal form Skye and the 2 boys(?) providing that trip hop originality that first brought the trio to the attention. This time around though there is a disco feel to morethan half of the tracks on the album particularly "love is rare" and a more pop feel than ever before with "Be Yourself". The highlight has to be "love sweet love " which uses a Grandmaster flash(ish) ... ...a fan of Morcheeba you mightn't rate it as high as the first 2 releases but I've no doubt that they will gain lorry load of new fans with the single releases of this album. And they deserve it, not the greatest third album....but there ethos is still spot on. Nice.......... ...
Steenson 28.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fragments Of Freedom - Morcheeba
Advantages: Short film on special edition, positive sound Disadvantages: Very different from previous albums
Morcheeba... New album, new look, new sound. If you really liked Who can you trust, and didn't like Big Calm as much, then you won't like this. Moving away from their trip-hop roots and towards hip-hop. From the unashamedly disco shallow end (a song proclaiming that if you write shallow songs or "dive into the shallow end you'll only bash your head" says Skye philosophically) to the poppy rome wasn't bulit in a day. One thing's for sure. If you're ...
skilldrick 01.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fragments Of Freedom - Morcheeba
Advantages: Some rockin' beats! Disadvantages: Experimentation generates bads as well as goods.
...worth buying for its diversity and just to listen to the dreamy voice of Skye Edwards whose vocal talents are more apparent in their first album, Who Can You Trust, but which are still very much a part of the reason why Fragments of Freedom is such a good album. ...
TomHolliday 03.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Fragments Of Freedom - Morcheeba
Advantages: Mellow, cool, a great summer record! Disadvantages:
I'm a huge Morcheeba fan, I loved the first two albums and this one doesn't disappoint. Skye's vocals are as gorgeous as ever, and the melodies are as infectious and foot-tapping as before. Some of the tracks have a more mainstream 'pop' appeal this time around, in particular 'Rome Wasn't Built in a Day' (the debut single out soon) but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Basically, a great summer record - stick it in the stereo and imagine ...
Luke-whittam 19.07.2000
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Review of Fragments Of Freedom - Morcheeba
Product Information for "Fragments Of Freedom - Morcheeba" »
Product details
Title
Fragments Of Freedom
Performer
Morcheeba
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
Soul
Release Date
10/07/2000
Recomended Retail Price
16.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2000
Label / Distributor
China / Cinram Logistics
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
685738360222
Catalogue Number
8573836022
Additional notes
Album Notes
Morcheeba: Skye (vocals); Ross Godfrey (guitar, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano, School piano, D6 Clavinet, Hammond C3 organ, bass, percussion, background vocals); Paul Godfrey (drums, programming, scratches, background vocals); Pete Norris (programming). Additional personnel includes: Steve Bentley-Klein (violin, trumpet); Chris White (tenor & baritone saxophones); Steve Sidwell (trumpet); Dan Goldman (Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond C3 organ); Steve Gordon (bass); Martin Carling (drums); Derek Green, Dee Lewis, Weston Foster, Paul Jason Fredericks, Joy Rose, Dee Lewis (background vocals). Producers: Paul Godfrey, Ross Godfrey, Pete Norris. Morcheeba's newest album seems a willful attempt to drop the band's trip hop tag. FRAGMENTS OF FREEDOM is even more brazenly pop-oriented than its previous effort, BIG CALM. Expanding on that album's eclectic genre mixing and pop music polish, FRAGMENTS places even more emphasis on crafting gorgeous pop songs with an ear toward the idiosyncratic. Morcheeba combines pop songwriting with an affinity for the upbeat horn arrangements of classic soul labels such as Stax, and a love of soundtracks and twisted synth noises. The track "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day," merges vocalist Skye's confident, soaring voice with triumphant horns and an upbeat rhythm. The production, while polished, maintains some of the rough edges of the band's previous efforts. Many of the songs showcase Morcheeba's affection for old school hip-hop rhythms and scratching, as shown by the two tracks featuring rappers Mr. Complex and Biz Markie. Markie's cameo on "In the Hands of the Gods" is a highlight, featuring his trademark human beatbox over a lazy funk groove. FRAGMENTS OF FREEDOM is Morcheeba's most accessible album to date.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (8/3/00, p.55) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A set of resolutely bubbly songs that link vintage funk to disco to hip-hop to slurpy blues....rarely has the shallow end sounded so richly appointed..." Entertainment Weekly (8/4/00, p.86) - "...Infectious tunes and pop-soul song craft that's more fun than the moody atmospherics of yesterday." - Rating: B Uncut (8/00, p.95) - 4.5 stars out of 5 - "...A delirious journey through every uplifting high point in your record collection given a definitively Morcheeba spin..." Mixmag (7/00, p.166) - 4 out of 5 - "...Beautifully crafted pop music that extracts the singalong bits from most musical genres...and filters them through Skye's smoky vocals..." CMJ (8/21/00, p.23) - "...An irresistible force in contemporary music." NME (7/29/00, p.27) - 7 out of 10 - "...It's Morcheeba on the edge, with attitude and at war. It's quite nice....an enduring monument to quiet goodness..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
World Looking In
2.
Rome Wasn't Built In A Day
3.
Love Is Rare
4.
Let It Go
5.
Well Deserved Break
6.
Love Sweet Love - Morcheeba & Mr. Complex
7.
In The Hands Of The Gods - Morcheeba & Biz Markie
8.
Shallow End
9.
Be Yourself
10.
Coming Down Gently
11.
Good Girl Down - Morcheeba & Bahamadia
12.
Fragments Of Freedom
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Listed on Ciao since
10/07/2000
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