Morcheeba Album: “Fragments of Freedom”

I would agree with the Amazon review that this album is not in any way as good as Big Calm. I would honestly like to give the album 3.5 stars rather than the 4, but I will give Morcheeba the benefit of the doubt based on their previous work of which I am very fond. Unlike Big Calm, or Who Can You Trust, I am not certain that I could listen to Fragments continuously, certainly not as background music. The vocals are too noticable, and the beat a little too dance-y. Having said that, I do like even some of the syrupy tracks, like Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

As for other tracks, "Let It Go" is not nearly so bad as the Amazon reviewer might have you believe, but I could live without it. The title track for the album should be well-liked by fans looking for the Morcheeba of Big Calm. As to the other tracks, they are all fine. but if I could only take one Morcheeba CD out of a burning house, it would be Big Calm, not Fragments. Having said that, though, I am happy to own it, and suspect I will listen too it a fair amount. However, I have to remember that Big Calm grew on me also. In six months, I might not be able to live without Fragments.

By the way, I just got the CD today, but I have been listening to the tunes for a week via the miracle of Napster. The preview was nice, but 128-bit does not do Sky's voice justice at all.

Well, I made the mistake of buying this cd without listening to it first. I normally would do that, but I went ahead and got it solely based on the merits of the group's first two albums. I LOVE "Who can you trust" and "The Big Calm." I don't know what happened with this effort. Perhaps no *effort* was put into it in the first place?! The music and lyrics are marred with cliché after cliché. Many of the songs seem like a pathetic try at being disco-esque rather than laid back trip-hop. This style just doesn't work here, though it has worked on some recent albums (ie: Beck's "Midnite Vultures." I'm sorely disappointed with "Fragments of Freedom" and will try to sell it before people realize just how bad it is. If you're interested in Morcheeba and don't have their albums yet, go with the first two. If you already have the first two, save your money and hope that their next album warrants more than two stars.

Yet I can add another name to the list of Pop Music sell outs. I baught this cd expecting Morcheeba to continue there ground breaking trip-hop cd's such as Big Calm and Who Can You Trust? But Fragments of Freedom seem to be just a cheap rip off of Mary J. Blige or Kelly Price. I think this CD is a dissapointment, the lyrics are terribly written and the music seems to sound like any 70's disco song. I urge all Morcheeba fans to not buy this and save there money!

Compared to their first two albums, I feel I have been had. I can't even listen to it. I bought it w/out sampling it first. It really is pretty sad to get a bad album. Next time, i'll review it beforehand.

that being said, I still think the first two albums are genius. esp trust. sade-like sensuality in her voice. mmmm get it if you don't have it.

Negu@arches.uga.edu

With the great eruption of Morcheeba into the realms of fame has unfortunately brought with it a desire to become a popular chart band. Becoming a popular chart band (singles band) means producing music that is palitable to the easy listener who will get a short but quick hit from a top ten single then probably forget about the song and move on to the next number one. If this is the aim of Morcheeba then they have done well for themselves because most of the songs on Fragments of Freedom are hits in themselves (Rome Wasn't Built In A Day), lovely easy listening, joyful, bouncy and easy to sing along to. I must admit that their songs will cheer you up however that is as far as it goes.

On personal opinion I have given them 2 stars because this isn't the sort of music I am looking for however if I were rating the album on merit such as breadth, quality of the recording etc then this album does deserve 4 stars. The quality of the recording is excellent and will make any cheap stereo sound good, it is crisp and clear. Skye's voice is brilliant for the Godfrey brothers' music (five stars there)! They also use a large variety of instruments, which makes each song have a different sound and thus makes the album a little bit more interesting. Another point I would like to draw attention to is that Morcheeba manage to make each song progress and change through out making it a slightly captivating album.

So there you have it, with Big Calm as Morcheeba's best album (a lot more deeper and meaningful) Fragments of Freedom has had a lot to live up to. Buy Fragments of Freedom if you want an easy listening album, it is well made and straight to the point.