Disco de Morcheeba: “Antidote [Japan]”

I don't mind that Skye went solo as long as Morcheeba still sounded good. We got two fine cds out of this deal. Skye's cd continues her own musical adventure while Morcheeba go for a retro feel with Daisy sounding a lot like Grace Slick; one of the best singers ever! Lighten up was the first song to hit me then Everybody Loves A Loser was next and the whole cd grows on you as a whole. Both cds are still better than most of what's out there now!

"The Antidote" is a collection of infectious, clever, funky pop songs, with a singer who has a voice like butter with a bit of Grace Slick and Shirley Bassey in there but with a style all her own. Fortunately, this disc is by Morcheeba, a band formerly known for their groovy sound, combining hip hop, relaxing sexy vocals and a little bit of country, rock and R&B. They also produced two of my favorite CD's, Big Calm and Charango - both brilliant. Well, Morcheeba's sound is still groovy but different. Skye Edwards left the band and Ross and Paul Godfrey hired a new singer, Daisy Martey. So some fans are a little disappointed. But after listening to this disc one time (it didn't even have to grow on me) I'm hooked! Every song is a gem, from the title song, with its little bit of Brasil 66 swing, to the gorgeous melodic Lighten Up with its infectious chorus, to the opening cut, which kicks the disc into high gear. It never lets up. It is disappointing when one singer leaves a band, but Morcheeba didn't try to emulate their old sound. They started fresh and I'm glad they did. Bands have to stay fresh to keep people interested. Keep it coming, Morcheeba!

I'm listening to Everyone Loves a Loser as I write this, and I'm actually bored. It sounds like a pop song, FCOL. I got hooked on Big Calm after only ONE song that was included on a mix CD I got for free after attending a Stevie Nicks concert.

This album just isn't as interesting as Big Calm was. I'm going to see what Skye has been up to... hopefully she has a solo album out.

FCOL = "for crying out loud".

I can't believe how utterly WRONG the other reviewers are that have blasted the new lead singer (the baby) and the lyrics, melodies & production (the bathwater)! This CD even surpasses their best, initial effort, "Who Can You Trust"! There is not a dud in the song list (like, Big Calm's "the sea" & "digging a watery grave") and pretty much everything on "Fragments of Freedom." Outstanding cuts include "Daylight Robbery," "Everybody Loves a Loser" and "God Bless & Goodbye", where quotidian concerns wrap like frothy cotton candy around a stick of solid musical craft!

THIS morcheeba is closer to Swing Out Sister, The Velvet Underground & DePhazz than any of their drowsy trip-hop recordings with Skye. Retro swinging 60's pop with terrific catchy melodies and lyrics and a brilliant lead singer!

Let your expectations go and let them "throw you a lifeline"!

Morcheeba didn't just "lose Skye", as some think. The Godfrey Brothers asked Skye to leave because her style didn't fit with the new musical directions in which they wanted to go, e.g., this recording. Daisy Martey, the singer on this CD, was fired by the Godfrey Brothers and she responded by suing them for assault, defamation, harassment and breach of contract.

This recording marks a very different direction for Morcheeba. Though it pales in comparison with Who Can You Trust? and Big Calm, there are many fine moments, especially tracks 1,2 and 5.