lambchops's Full Review: Back to Mine by Morcheeba
Throughout their four studio albums, Morcheeba has paid homage to their various and diverse influences. Some artists have even lent their production and vocal talent to a song or two. For this reason, the British hip hop/pop/trip hop trio was a likely choice to contribute to the Back to Mine series.
Morcheeba is but one of ten talented acts that have worked on the series of compilations all available on independent label DMC. Also providing a disc of favorites are Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Danny Tenaglia, Groove Armada, Talvin Singh, Faithless, Everything But The Girl, MJ Cole, and Orbital. Of course I couldn’t help myself when I found out that one of my favorite bands was a part of Back To Mine.
The album, released in 2001, is mostly notably the baby of Paul Godfrey. Along with Skye Edwards and Russ Godfrey, Morcheeba has come to be known as somewhat of a force to be reckoned with musically. Their four other albums, Who Can You Trust, Big Calm, Fragments of Freedom and this year’s Charango have all been critically lauded and have become increasingly popular especially stateside. Back To Mine demonstrates where the trio originates and who they look up to musically.
With that said, this chapter of Back To Mine features fifteen tracks. Of the songs, only one is from the band whose name is on the cover…Morcheeba. The rest extend across every genre and boundary in a manner not unlike the music recorded by Morcheeba in previous outings. It’s difficult not to like something about compilations. This particular collection has more purpose and more intent than most. In purchasing and listening to Back To Mine, Morcheeba allows listeners into their diverse record collection. I’m happy to have been given the pleasure. I’m also excited to have discovered many new artists that otherwise I would never nave been exposed.
1. Annette Peacock – Pony
I’m The One (1972)
It’s difficult to believe that this song is older than me. It’s funky, free flowing and obviously Peacock has been a huge influence on Morcheeba. Pony was something very differed and rather avant-garde when released. Based on this song, she’s got a great ear for stark songs and creative composition. Peacock’s music extends beyond all boundaries and genres. It’s great even today, thirty years later and sounds more relevant than ever in today’s musical landscape.
2. Morcheeba – On the Rhodes Again
Who Can You Trust?/Beats & B-Sides (1998)
Originally a b-side, On the Rhodes Again is once again a shining example of the talent possessed by Morcheeba. The song has a memorable drum kick and an equally effervescent blues guitar. It’s unfortunate that Godfrey didn’t choose a song featuring Skye’s distinctive vocals, but as an instrumental track I can’t really complain. It’s lovely and representative of the British band on the whole with a tendency to lean toward modern hip-hop.
3. Alice Russell – Someday
The driving, intense voice possessed by Russell is rather impressive. This song appears to be her only musical endeavor of any particular note despite the fact that she does indeed sound like a seasoned artist in the same vein as Lauryn Hill, Angie Stone, and Jill Scott.
4. Dr. John – Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
Gris-Gris (1968)
As one of the few artists on this album I have any previous knowledge, I was pleased to see that extent to which Morcheeba extended when putting together this collection. Dr. John tends toward psychedelic and soulful sounds as well as strange Middle Eastern influences on this song. While the track is slow and methodical, Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya is actually a rather upbeat selection. The chanting that surrounds his own raspy vocals is richly dazzling.
5. Jim White – Still Waters
Wrong Eyed Jesus (1997)
Alternative folk/country soloist Jim White is a simple, yet exceeding talented artist. With little more than a guitar and his voice, the Florida native is utterly beautiful. His vocals are unique, his imagery and narratives are tender yet crazed at the same time. This man is one that should most certainly be awarded more attention and I for one am going to purchase his debut, Wrong Eyed Jesus.
6. New Kingdom – Cheap Thrills (Underdog Remix)
Heavy Load (1993)
A blend of pop and alternative with hip-hop, this song is absolutely, utterly entertaining. I find it difficult to believe that fans of hip-hop and alternative couldn’t appreciate a least a little of this song. Once again, Morcheeba seems to have been heavily influenced by this relaxed yet still groovy and funky style. Once again, I think I might just have to check out more from this band and if what I’ve said about New Kingdom is sounds appealing I might just suggest you too do the same.
7. Small World – Dual Tone
The only previous work I can find by Small World is with Wyclef Jean. With that said, the style here is funky and exceedingly retro. I can’t complain about the synthesizer laden thumping and spooky ambiance in the least. The samples work nicely with the overall goal of the song. Though, I’m not as fond of the offering as some of the others.
8. The Giant – Hidden Crate
Both soul and hip-hop are distinctively represented on this song. It’s a decent track, though I don’t believe it was a necessary inclusion. It redundant when other songs are considered. And, it seems to lack direction and purpose. Not bad per se, just average and even somewhat too melodramatic.
9. David McCallum – The Edge – Music
A Bit More of Me (1968)
Artist, David McCallum, is an odd selection on this album amongst hip-hop and alternative pop artists. It’s novel and the music is strange. And the kitsch factor with McCallum as Russian agent Ilya Kuryakin on TV show The Man Called Uncle is undeniable. I’m not keen on the track that in my opinion just sounds like part of a bad TV soundtrack.
10. Krishna Shah – Baby Let’s Dance Together
Spacey, funky, and rich in a 70’s porn flick sort of way, this Krishna Shah song is also oddly assembled. It’s got everything from a muted trumped, to stringed instruments, to strange percussion, to breathy female vocals and even an odd Middle Eastern feel. Morcheeba most likely is indebted to the multiple and diverse layers on the song and has taken away from the style an freedom to use whichever instruments seem most fun and most applicable.
11. Taj Mahal – Chevrolet
Happy To Be Just Like I Am (1971)
Contemporary blues, funky rhythms, and a carefree feel mark this Taj Mahal track. This is but the second artist that I have any previous knowledge up. The acoustic feel and international feel of Chevrolet are impressive and overall very entertaining. He seems to have little fear of experimentation and in doing so is overall rather universally appealing. Again, this lack of limit was undoubtedly a starting point for Morcheeba sans the bluesy elements.
12. Plus – Put Everything Together
A song that seems little more than a horn-infused funky soul song from the 1970’s (though I was able to find little out about Plus in my vain search for information), I find myself lulled to disinterest by the lack of direction, interest, and purpose of this lackluster effort. Why Godfrey chose this song is a complete mystery.
13. Missin’ Linx – What It Is
Exhibit A (2000)
I’m not necessarily the best judge of rap, but this is an okay effort. It seems little more than a cookie cutter rap effort. I do appreciate the bass-funk feel of the song mixed with multiple levels of lyrics and multiple rhymers. Can’t say that it’s brilliant or great in any way…it’s simply What It Is. Bad pun, I know.
14. Os Mutantes – Baby
Os Mutantes (1968)
Brazilian psychedelic rock. Yes, it does in fact exist in the form of Os Mutantes formed in 1965. Baby is a part of their apparently rather innovative and inventive 1968 eponymous debut. This particular offering is soft, wandering, and rather pointless at times. There is no real chorus, no traditional flow, and no real direction. It’s easy to see why this sensibly hippie track could be influential with multiple layers, gratuitous use odd percussion, and pianos. I can’t say that it’s my favorite, though it is most certainly from an oft ignored psychedelic act.
15. Lambchop – Life’s Little Tragedy
How I Quit Smoking (1996)
Occasional Morcheeba collaborator Kurt Wagner’s band Lambchop makes an appearance as the last offering on Back To Mine. Formed in the early 1990’s in Nashville, the alternative soul, jazz, rock band is an almost authentic country record. With sentimental, flowing, and overall very offbeat instrumentation this is a good song. I can honestly say that it’s not my cup of tea. Wagner just seems too detached and to blasé.
I do believe that this album was an overall very important and very necessary purchase. As I mentioned in the beginning, I’m proud to own this album from beginning to end regardless of those less than stellar tracks. I find that by it’s very nature and my love of Morcheeba on the whole I’ve been further introduced to a diverse group of artists with another whole diverse group of interests. I will most certainly purchase a Jim White disc (or two) and I am going to seek out the apparently hard to find New Kingdom releases.
If you have any interest in Morcheeba, it’s imperative that you pick up this album and that you do in fact come to appreciate at least a few of the people that they find solace in. It’s not a perfect album as I’ve mentioned throughout. Rather, it’s just an important one…
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