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Editorial Review:
Blame Tricky and Portishead. They started this whole Bristol sound thing, with sleepy techno beats overshadowed by the chirrupy vocals of some slumberland chanteuse. And, just when you think the approach has lost all its steam, all its relevance, along comes a new outfit to make the music a few degrees sleepier and the singing a tad more dreamy. And singers don't come any dreamier than Skye Edwards, whose lissom trill infuses every track on this sophomore outing with a tranquil ennui. You don't jump around to Morcheeba numbers like "The Sea". You sit back and let them creep up on you, as steady as the tides. --Tom Lanham
Morcheeba is a band with all its bases covered. Brothers Ross and Paul Godfrey pull in opposite directions, with Ross handling the more organic range of instrumentation, from guitar to Hammond organ, while Paul takes care of programming and turntable work. Add to that formula the self-ordained "Sound Surgeon" Pete Norris and the cool, ethereal voice of singer Skye Edwards, whose quiet self-assurance provides a meeting ground for the eclectic sonic amalgam that is Morcheeba'sBIG CALM. Burbling analogue synths and gritty slide guitar dominate on "Part Of The Process", setting the pace for the wild diversity of sounds to follow. Serene keyboards and buzzing drum samples provide the unique backdrop for the timeless melody of "Blindfold". Lush string arrangements and beautiful fingerpicked guitar grace the close harmonies and confessional lyrics of "Over And Over". Powerful string orchestration also lifts the ballad "Fear And Love". "Friction" features a deep reggae groove, a horn section and chatting by Spikey T.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Touching the Clam Sky Although the criticism that this is dinner party music seems fair on first inspection, this album boasts some truly fantastic lyrics and vocals that put trip hop bands like Massive Attack in the shade. "Part of the Process" is melancholy and uplifting at the same time, "Over and Over" is one of the sweetest short tracks I have ever heard, while "Diggin' A Watery Grave" proves that music doesn't always need lyrics to be affective. Atmospheric, sad, funny in places, and ultimately beautiful, it combines... more info
Dead calm? This sultry follow up to 1996's "Who Do You Trust?" was both accomplished and memorable.
"The Sea" is all chill-out strings and alluring vocals whereas "Part Of The Process" takes "Career Opportunities" by the Clash, passes it a reefer and gives Joe's mike to Skye.
"Blindfold" is also a slow-burn classic.
"Fear And Love" is a charming ballad and the fragile acoustic "Over And Over" is a startling inclusion.
The title track is another high-point which bears repeated listening.
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Great, great, great!!! This was the first Morcheeba CD I bought and I have had it for ages. I have bought pretty much all of Morcheebas other CDs, and whilst the others are very good, I think that Big Calm is absolutely the best! This CD combines smooth tones with fantastically odd lyrics, and is an amazing CD to chill out to.
Chill out music doesn't get much more chilled I was really impressed with this album. Right from the beautiful opener, the Sea, to the hip-hopy closing track, Big Calm, this is one of the best chill out albums I've heard.
I like the way the quality isn't affected by the diversity of the tracks. There are classic chill-out tracks like The Sea, Blindfold (probably the highlight of the album), mellow tunes like Over and Over and Fear and Love, an instrumental in Bullet Proof with its big funky beats a bit of hip hop at then end. The are the best tracks... more info
