Head Up High

by Morcheeba

Overview

Now on their second album since original vocalist Skye Edwards rejoined the band, trip-hop veterans Morcheeba stretch their wings on Head Up High, an album that follows its guest stars into outside genres and generally messes about with the group's patented sound. It's obviously an inspirational move, as "Face of Danger" with rapper Chali 2na is a instantly gripping 2013 neo-disco near-sequel to Grace Jones' declarative hit "Demolition Man," while the pride-injected "To Be" with U.K. hip-hop duo Rizzle Kicks gets that dirt off the shoulder in the coolest of styles. "Finally Found You" with White Denim's James Petralli is a solid universal love song that would make the country charts if sung by Parton and Rogers or the R&B charts if sung by Austin and Ingram. The veteran trio is willing to explore on its own too, offering new sound with "Hypnotized," a sultry, sexy creeper readily available whenever Tarantino needs a cool soundtrack for seduction, while "Do You Good" is the kind of restrained electro cool that Goldfrapp used to own exclusively. "Make Believer" offers dub at a wicked dancehall pace, but power ballads aren't a natural fit for the group, as "Call It Love" cries at the sky looking for answers while lurching its way toward the fade-out. Some other experiments only warrant a B or B+ and the whole jumble might feel odd to a newcomer, but since it is mostly returning fans at this late point in the discography, Head Up High earns its title with only one or two flicks of the skip button. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	10/15/2013
Label:	PIAS AMERICA
UPC:	5414939563829

Tracks

1. Gimme Your Love
2. Face of Danger
3. Call It Love
4. Under the Ice
5. I'll Fall Apart
6. Make Believer
7. Release Me Now
8. To Be
9. Hypnotized
10. To the Grave
11. Do You Good
12. Finally Found You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Morcheeba   Primary Artist
Paul Godfrey   Kalimba,Marimba,Turntables,Synthesizer,Sound Effects,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background),Bass
Chali 2na   Rap,Featured Artist
Ross Godfrey   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Charango,Clavinet,Synthesizer,Fender Rhodes,Sound Effects,Organ (Hammond),Lap Steel Guitar,Guitar (Acoustic)
Nature Boy Jim Kelly   Rap,Featured Artist
Andy Nunn   Piano
Darren Heelis   Bass,Synthesizer
James Petralli   Vocals
Skye   Vocals
Steve Gordon   Bass,Vocals (Background)
Ana Tijoux   Rap,Featured Artist
Rizzle Kicks   Rap,Vocals,Featured Artist
Chris Wintermeyer   Trumpet

Technical Credits

Ryan Joseph   Vocal Engineer
Paul Godfrey   Mixing,Composer,Producer,Beats
J. Furlow   Composer
Pat Collier   Piano Engineer,Vocal Engineer,Guitar Engineer
Ross Godfrey   Composer
J. Stephens   Composer
Dan Mogford   Design,Art Direction
Alex Lake   Band Photo
Bunt Stafford-Clark   Mastering
Darren Heelis   Mixing
James Petralli   Composer
Laurent Lescas   Vocal Engineer
Ana Tijoux   Composer
Nick Joswick   Vocal Engineer
Charles Stewart   Composer,Vocal Engineer
Miguel Celis Mujica   Vocal Engineer