Morcheeba – Blackest Blue (2021) [Official Digital Download 24bit/44,1kHz]

Morcheeba – Blackest Blue (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 43:19 minutes | 489 MB | Genre: Pop, Trip Hop
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Fly Agaric Records

Pioneers of the British music scene, ‘Blackest Blue’ will be the band’s 10th studio album in a discography that spans three decades. 2020 saw Morcheeba unable to tour or perform live, which gave Skye Edwards & Ross Godfrey “time to write songs and really get to hone them,” as Godfrey puts it. “There weren’t so many pressures so we could really take our time getting the songs right,” adds Edwards. The result of this time is a refined 10 track album that fuses previous incarnations and sound of the band – such as downbeat, chill, electro-pop & soul – into one cohesive record that dives deep into the soul of the band’s genre-mashing musical heritage. As usual, the band didn’t approach the album with any pre-conceptions, and instead created an organic journey that represents everything great about Morcheeba. Edwards’ lyrics are primarily focused on positivity and overcoming personal adversity that lies within. ‘Sounds Of Blue’, is a stunning cut that puts Skye Edward’s sultry vocals to the forefront, floating high above an ethereal backdrop. The album includes features with Duke Garwood (known for his work with Mark Lanegan, amongst others) and Brad Barr (The Slip, The Barr Brothers). ” Morcheeba’s global reach is impressive, taking them to every corner of the world . Their signature chilled electronic/organic sound has been border-hopping ever since the London-based band emerged as a household name. The past year has been one of introspection for the duo, as they take stock of their renewed global fan base and look forward to being able to play the new album live in the not too distant future. “This was the first time since I was a teenager that I’d spent a year off the road and I enjoyed the tranquility, although I missed playing my guitar in far off lands,” says Godfrey.

The wave of lockdown albums continues into spring 2021 with English group Morcheeba, one of the pioneers of the English trip hop scene that ruled that charts during the 90s. A duo since Paul Godfrey’s departure in 2014, the combo of Ross Godfrey (production) and Skye Edwards (vocals), freed from their touring schedule, took their time to meticulously fine-tune this tenth studio album. We find almost all of the group’s hallmarks on this record: downtempo beats, a soulful vibe, rock guitars that don’t intrude too much (the single Sounds Of Blue—pure 90s trip hop—or the instrumental Sulphur Soul with its heavy drums) but instead escape into the orchestration of the songs. An example of these hallmarks are the Californian guitars of Oh Oh Yeah, accompanied by steamy vocals, or Skye Edwards’ chorus on Killed Our Love which conjures up the languid atmosphere of a deserted beach. It’s as if lockdown has provoked a desire for wide open spaces in the duo, American in nature perhaps, with these little folk/country moments as on Falling Skies where the vocals are drenched in reverb. A record of true elegance. – Smaël Bouaici

Tracklist:
1. Morcheeba – Cut My Heart Out (05:02)
2. Morcheeba – Killed Our Love (04:51)
3. Morcheeba – Sounds Of Blue (03:34)
4. Morcheeba – Say It’s Over (03:53)
5. Morcheeba – Sulphur Soul (03:13)
6. Morcheeba – Oh Oh Yeah (06:53)
7. Morcheeba – Namaste (03:53)
8. Morcheeba – The Moon (03:28)
9. Morcheeba – Falling Skies (03:11)
10. Morcheeba – The Edge Of The World (05:16)

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