After reviewing Portishead i can not resist the chance to review my other favorite Trip-Hop album , Big Calm which is Morcheeba's second studio recording . Although these two bands are same genre they are actually poles apart when it comes to portrayal of mood and sound .
Morcheeba is a three piece U.K band composing brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey and Skye Edwards who have a very what i could only describe as atmospheric and soulful sound.
To me this album should be played in asylums because Skye's lyrics are very soothing and the Godfrey brothers just add music that floats along with her voice perfectly so it is with much joy i get to review this special album Big Calm
TRACK LISTING
1. The Sea : 5.47
2. Shoulder Holster : 4.04
3. Part of the Process : 4.24
4. Blindfold : 4.37
5. Let Me See : 4.20
6. Bullet Proof : 4.11
7. Over and Over : 2.20
8. Friction : 4.13
9. Diggin' a Watery Grave : 1.34
10. Fear and Love : 5.04
11. Big Calm : 6.00
The Sea : This song is a amazing piece of music , it's spacey, airy,chill sounding with Skye's dreamy vocals coming over the top this track actually makes you think about the salty air , the hot sun , seagulls and boats .This opener i think nearly changes your brainwave frequency it gets the brain to relax, the imagination to wander and the ears to listen with eagerness.... Hypnotic
Shoulder Holster : Has a Sitar sounding intro with bass guitar pluck sounds , bongos record scratches and numerous other layers the instrument diversity is a pleasure to listen to , probably the most trip-hop sounding track for me on the album to me the boys really outshine Skye in this one .
Part of the Process : Almost has a wild west sound to it , the song is well sung by Skye she seems to sing at ease here . She really emphasizes on highlighting the start of each word and as always the Godfrey's instrumentals deliver without fail
Blindfold : Awesome song great intro , Skye puts her dreamy vocals to work again add the great tempo changes from the boys also the scratching needs a mention it really adds so much weight to this track actually all band members get to shine and put their 33.3% in .
Let Me See : Love the intro piano sounding with bongo sounding drums the scratching reminded of Rolf Harris with his wobble board on one little short part of background noise. Skye's vocals also sound a little like Macey Gray the music diversity is great there even sounds like a recorder late in the song also
Bullet Proof : Boys get the spotlight here , this track is a killer , scratching is again sublime great samples , loops and beat.
Most bands usually lose the plot without the lead vocals Morcheeba find another gear , Sits well mid album doesn't feel out of place at all a credit indeed.
Over and Over : Acoustic intro Skye slots straight back in perfectly the song to me is quite medicinal and folkish in a way add Skye's soothing voice its perfect.
Friction : Jamaican beat it's a bloody ripper the band flow here perfection at work upbeat smoke gunja music at it's best . Morcheeba in top gear , cross gender lyrics makes it a yin yan alignment.
Diggin' a Watery Grave : Sitar sound is back almost has a western dust bowl duel sound to it short instrumental filler for the next song
Fear and Love : This is so beautiful i personally dig this song the most , vocal range is good Skye gets to actually roll her words here and gives you a taste of her vocals , strings are perfect the boys step back and pave the way with airy music for Skye to float her dreamy words across.
Big Calm : Love the sounds in this the layering is good scratching is awesome yet again the vocal are kinda rappish. the guitar gets a nice little solo .
Great finish to a really good experience you end up looking at the clock and say that was an hour well spent
Conclusion : This album sedates you it really puts you in a really relaxed mood a far cry from Portishead i hate to say it though Beth Gibbons pours her heart into Dummy where i got the feeling Skye wasn't vocally tested at all with this album that being said Skye's voice is beautiful its mellow and Big Calm itself is a very very positve sounding album that makes me feel like i have taken Valium .
Big Calm is Epic and has brought me many hours of joy highly recommended 8 / 10
