Morcheeba – Who Can You Trust?

Pronto Toronto Series Pt.2: $2.99 Finds Pt.2: Morcheeba – Who Can You Trust?

I got into the whole trip hop thing when we lived in Montreal many years ago, and Morcheeba was a big part of the sound in my ears. I came to them via their classic second album, Big Calm. This record, their debut, shows the promise that appeared on later efforts. It’s so laid-back, so groovy, so simply beautiful that you cannot help but be pulled into its atmospheres. 

Skye Edwards’ vocals are smooth and pretty, you just want the record to go on forever so you can keep listening to her sing. And all of this is wrapped in the bluesy, world-music, dj-scratching dub grooving of brothers Ross and Paul Godfrey. Brilliant stuff, tastefully done.

You may have heard Tape Loop, maybe Trigger Hippie, but the whole thing is so slowly stylishly glorious and funky that when it’s over, all you want is to play it all again. Score!

Morcheeba – Big Calm

Here’s a $3 absolute frickin’ score from Sonic Boom. Somewhere along the line, I misplaced/sold/lost my copy of this, and I was absolutely thrilled to find it so cheap on this trip. This is the return of an old friend. I knew every note and move. What a record!

The 5th Annual Toronto Expedition Series, Part 34 (CD)

I cannot count the number of times I’ve heard this album, but it’s a ton. We lived in Montreal 1999-2001, and this was everywhere. Supreme Beings Of Leisure, Massive Attack, Portishead, etc… and Morcheeba was a big part too.

Big Calm was first of theirs I heard, and it became my favourite of theirs. That sound, that feel, that drift into calm and cool, bluesy and smooth and sweet… Absolutely tuneful, fucking brilliant.

Fully recommended. Get it!

Morcheeba – Charango

I always loved this band’s album called Big Calm, so I was curious to try this one out too. Especially when it was in the 3 For $10 bin at BMV when Mike and I went to Taranna this year!

And what did I find? More of the same awesome. This is just excellent soulful trip hop pop rock music… I know that’s a mouthful of labels but it’s true! The songs are smartly contrusted, the vocals are great, it all works perfectly.

You might know a track from here called Rome Wasn’t Built in A Day, which is one of the straightest pop songs here. But the rest of it is totally worth your time, if you happen across it in your travels!

I really enjoyed grooving to this and, after also playing Supreme Beings Of Leisure (see yesterday’s review) too, I’m actually in a pretty happy brain space at the moment!