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Editorial Review:
In which Clapham's dreamiest, downbeatiest, de-loveliest trio takes it uptown, takes it to the bridge, and even--on the phatter-than-phat "In The Hands Of The Gods"--takes it over to Biz Markie's house. If you aren't frightened of sudden bursts of extroversion or a whiff of the mainstream any more than those stray dismissals of Morcheeba's oeuvre as "coffeetablist" put you off, you're in for a treat. Albeit a more in-your-face variety than that of luscious predecessor Big Calm, which sold sneaky, word-of-mouth millions while still seeming like an irresistibly hoarded secret between you, Paul Edwards' turntables, brother Ross' sleepy slide guitar and Skye Edwards' mouth-watering voice. Fortunately, there's enough pop here for everyone to take a bite: bright, radio-friendly gospel choruses ("Rome Wasn't Built In A Day"), shameless disco strings ("Shallow End"), wickedly itchy grooves and Chic-style struts ("Be Yourself", "Let It Go"). Melancholics will doubtless prefer the hazily elegiac title track and hypnotic "World Looking In", but the album's real highlights radiate pure exuberance instead. And judging from the Grandmaster Flash-ised roller-rink glee of "Love Sweet Love", or Skye and rapper Bahamadia biggin' up the ladies in "Good Girl Down", rest assured that if any coffee tables were involved in the production of this recording, they were treated with a complete lack of respect. --Jennifer Nine
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
M People for the trip-hop generation All the edge had been broken off the groove of Morcheeba by the time of this disappointing third album.
"Rome Wasn't Build In A Day" served as inconsequential lead single and the rest of the album is lightweight.
"World Looking In" starts promisingly by morphs into a stodgy peice of blandness.
The rest of the album is forgettable. The title track is a pale, anaemic relation to the title track of "Big Calm."
A startling underacheivement.
Much more upbeat! Fragments of freedom is definately different from all the other three Morcheeba albums (Who Can You Trust, Charango and Big Calm), it has a much more upbeat sound, that makes you happy!There are some excellent instrumental tracks too, such as 'Coming Down Gently' and 'A Well Deserved Break' - I think the steel drum is great.
The only track I don't like on this album is 'In the Hands of the Gods (Feat Biz Markie)', but then its only 1:42 mins long.
Some people may describe this album as pop, just because... more info
My wife's favourite album! Ignore views that this is a less than inspired album. It's certainly better than Charango and at least on a par with Big Calm.
Fragments of Freedom is perfectly good melodious pop with a dreamy, ethereal quality thanks to Skye's fine voice, and plenty of variety - even hip hop and reggae. And my wife thinks it's great - perhaps the best advertisement I can think of.
A big disappointment I don't mind Moorcheeba lightening up/being more poppy but if the result is ugly sounding lazy rubbish I do! The first four tracks are the best (including the excellent "Rome wasn't built") but it is downhill from thereon in. They seem to be all over the place with reggae, chillout instrumental, rap all existing cheek by jowl and all equally forgettable.
