Moloko Albums (4)
'Things to Make and Do'
Release Date 4/10/2000
Tracks 18
Label RoadRunner
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Considering the esoteric materials that make up Moloko's unusual sound (trip-hop, funk, drum'n'bass, and a decidedly bizarro pop ethic), the group's music is surprisingly coherent and accessible. Things to Make and Do, the English duo's third full-length platter, is as strong as anything else they've done -- Roisin Murphy's singing style, which combines a wild variety of voices and textures, from impassively chilly to gorgeously lilting to gleefully offbeat, is instantly recognizable and endearing throughout, while Mark Brydon's broad compositional palette runs the gamut from irresistibly straightforward rock/dance grooves ("Indigo") to highly stylized electro/hip-hop programming (the Timbaland-esque "Absent Minded Friends"). Just enough live instrumentation is added to the songs to make them sound varied and human (check out the nylon-string guitar in the flamenco-flavored "The Time Is Now," which faintly recalls Basement Jaxx's "Rendez-Vu") and it adds a timeless quality to the music overall. The duo never falls into any of the clichés of any of the genres they exploit, managing instead to sound consistently fresh, adventurous, and enjoyable. Highlights include the buoyant "Somebody Somewhere" (featuring a rare vocal turn by Brydon) and the flawless, inscrutable "Indigo" (with its nonsensical chant: "Ramases! Colossus!"). Moloko is the best at what they do mainly because they are the only ones doing it. [Includes a dance remix of "Sing It Back" from I Am Not a Doctor.] ~ Andy Hinds, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
I Am Not a Doctor could have been called Moloko 2.0. A better integration of tech appeal and sex appeal than the group's debut, Do You Like My Tight Sweater?, Moloko's singing, writing, and musical reach are all upgraded on I Am Not a Doctor. The result is a more entertaining and less self-conscious album. Songs like "The Flipside," "Blink," and "Pretty Bridges" offer a stylized pop take on jungle, while the ballads "Downsized," "Caught in a Whisper," and "Should've Been Could've Been" mix pathos with the band's dry wit. The deadpan new wave of "Sorry," the cyberfunky "The Id," and the techno torch song "Sing It Back" show off Moloko's expanded range. Musically and vocally, Roisin Murphy and Mark Brydon blend their talents more smoothly on I Am Not a Doctor. Murphy's voice melds with the horns, strings, and keyboards backing her, while real and electronic drums punctuate each song expressively. A balance of contradictions, Moloko keep inventiveness and listenability high on their second album. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
'Do You Like My Tight Sweater?'
Release Date 1/1/1995
Tracks 17
Label Echo
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
The aptly named Do You Like My Tight Sweater? slinks and bounces on a funky backbone of fat basslines and innovative beats that support singer Roisin Murphy's sly, theatrical vocals and lyrics. Part catwoman, part droid, her singing ranges from a knowing purr to an androgynous growl and creates characters like party weirdos, dominatrixes, killer bunnies, and ghosts. As dramatic as her vocals are, however, Murphy is an antidiva; her musical surroundings equal her singing in importance. The other half of Do You Like My Tight Sweater?'s individuality comes from Mark Brydon's arrangements, which combine fluid tempos, sudden breakbeats, witty sound effects, and unearthly keyboards in sci-fi grooves that appeal to the brain and body. Standout tracks like "Fun for Me," "I Can't Help Myself," "Lotus Eaters," and "Party Weirdo" mix sensuality, technology, funk, and electronica in a unique and stylish blend. While some of the sillier songs like "On My Horsey" and "Dirty Monkey" disrupt the flow of Do You Like My Tight Sweater?, the danceable creativity of Moloko's debut overrides its quirks. ~ Heather Phares, All Music Guide
