Fragments of Freedom

Fragments of Freedom

by Morcheeba
Fragments of Freedom

Fragments of Freedom

by Morcheeba

CD

$17.99 
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Overview

Even though Morcheeba were one of the later, straggling entries in the trip-hop phenomenon, their previous albums succeed because of the interplay between Skye Edwards' sweetly sensual, airy voice and the band's correspondingly mellow grooves. Unfortunately, their third album, Fragments of Freedom, scraps most of their signature sound for half-baked experiments in R&B, acid jazz, and hip-hop. Though it's certainly understandable that the group would want to move away from the dead-and-buried trip-hop sound that defined them originally, it seems that Morcheeba are just using bands like Brand New Heavies and M People as sonic templates instead of Tricky and Portishead. The bland, overly slick production softens any impact that soulless soul songs such as "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" and "Love Is Rare" might have had, and while Edwards may be blessed with a soulful voice, she's unconvincing belting out pseudo-sultry lyrics like "Is that a rocket in your pocket?" The group's misguided forays into hip-hop are even worse; Mr. Complex's guest rap on "Love Sweet Love" sounds like it was surgically grafted from another track entirely, and while Bahamadia's appearance on "Good Girl Down"'s celebration of sisterhood makes more sense, it still sounds out of place with Edwards' essentially refined, delicate style. Not every song on Fragments of Freedom is ill conceived, however; the opening track, "World Looking In," ranks among their finest, and the steel drum instrumental "A Well Deserved Break" is pretty and refreshing. Despite its annoying, overpowering synth bass, "Shallow End" boasts a lilting, seductive melody that showcases Edwards' voice instead of fighting against it, and the title track is a pleasant enough piece of trip-hop pastiche. But for the most part, Fragments of Freedom's contrived attempts to bring the funk to Morcheeba's sound are as fake and painful as a forced smile. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date: 08/01/2000
Label: London/Sire / Sire
UPC: 0643443113724
Rank: 94731

Tracks

  1. World Looking In
  2. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day
  3. Love Is Rare
  4. Let It Go
  5. A Well Deserved Break
  6. Love Sweet Love
  7. In the Hands of the Gods
  8. Shallow End
  9. Be Yourself
  10. Coming Down Gently
  11. Good Girl Down
  12. Fragments of Freedom

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Morcheeba   Primary Artist
Bahamadia   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Rap
Biz Markie   Primary Artist,Featured Artist,Rap
Mr. Complex   Featured Artist
Derek Green   Vocals (Background)
Tony Wall   Vocals (Background),Vocals (Background)
Weston Foster   Vocals (Background)
William Lyons   Recorder
DJ Crossphader   Scratching
DJ First Rate   Scratching
Steve Bentley-Klein   Violin,Mandolin,Fender Rhodes
Stuart Edge   Flute,Saxophone
Paul Godfrey   Drums,Vocals,Percussion,Scratching,Vocals (Background)
Noel Vine   Violin
Fimber Bravo   Drums (Steel)
Paul Bevan   Recorder
Steve Gordon   Guitar (Bass),Guitar (Bass)
Adam Jarrett   Vocals (Background)
Skye Edwards   Vocals
Paul Jason Fredericks   Vocals (Background)
Natalia Bonner   Violin
Steve Sidwell   Trumpet
Dee Lewis   Vocals (Background)
Mario Castronari   Double Bass
Joy Rose   Vocals (Background)
Ross Godfrey   Bass,Piano,Guitar,Clavinet,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Vocals (Background),Analogue Synthesizer
Mr Complex   Rap
Dan Goldman   Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond)
Martin Carling   Drums

Technical Credits

Sherman Edwards & Donald Meyer   Composer
William Lyons   Engineer,Recording
Paul Godfrey   Beats,Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Programming
Chris "Pitta" Harrison   Beats,Assistant Producer
Paul Bevan   Engineer,Recording
M Power   Composer
Antonia Reed   Composer
Skye Edwards   Composer,Lyricist
Bahamadia   Composer
Chris Harrison   Beats,Production Assistant
Ross Godfrey   Mixing,Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Peter Norris   Mixing,Arranger,Producer,Synthesizer Programming
Giscombe   Composer
Derek Green   Vocal Producer
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