I came back from my trip with CDs from a cool band called Morcheeba. Their sound was initially described to me as “trip hop,” and I figured, no problem, I know all about trip hop; that’s what I did that time I went to a square dance.
It turns out that the band’s sound is more like electronica flavored with a little funk, a little R&B, and overlayed with beautiful, wraith-like female vocals. Their CDs go platinum all over Europe, although they’re relatively difficult to get in the States, and I asked my German friend and my French friend if this band was considered “cool” by European types. I was assured: “Very. If you’re in the know, you listen to Morcheeba.” And when’s the last time Germany and France agreed on anything? I mean, except for that business in Iraq.
I returned home happy and tired and with Morcheeba songs playing in my head, which explains why, aside from jet lag, post-vacation depression hit me the strongest when I turned on American radio and was faced with the complete opposite of good music: the Counting Crows doing yet another ghastly cover. For God’s sake, don’t they read this web site? I was very clear the last time about this matter. And why “Friend of the Devil”? Why subject that gorgeous, bluesy song to such a slowed down, bleached out, moronic interpretation? I already know that the Counting Crows are friends of the Devil. How else did they get a recording contract in the first place?*
*And none of this vitriol directed at the band has anything to do with the fact that an ex of mine dated one of the members, although I’d point out just as a matter of general knowledge and insight, it’s difficult win points in such a situation by declaring “You know, my air guitar shows more musical technique than anything played by those talentless hacks.”
Morcheeba is actually in the que at all the really cool yoga studios....
lol on the counting crows bashing. who did she date? Please don’t say Dan Vickrey.
Note to Self: Check out Morcheeba
oy, counting crows. i do like the song they did for shrek 2, but even their live covers of their OWN songs suck. bah.
on the other hand, hey, you’re finally cool! very good on the morcheeba find. listen in good health.
I like Morcheeba enough to get over the fact that they were giving out free singles in front of the Urban Outfitters in Georgetown several years ago. I had gotten my at my college station. Swear. Really. I mean it.
I would not, however, have gotten over it if Counting Crows had done a Morcheeba cover, which is where I though this was heading initially.
I’m actually shocked you weren’t in the know about Morcheeba. What are you going to tell me next, you’re unfamiliar with Morphine too?
“Parts of the Process” is by far the best Morcheeba compilation I’ve come across.
“Charango” is a great album too.
That comparison doesn’t make any sense to me. Morphine was widely played on U.S. stations and received a lot of press, whereas Morcheeba’s CDs aren’t even available on Amazon US. (You can get them on Amazon UK and eBay.) Deb’s comment shows how they have attempted to scratch and claw their way into this market, much like Texas (another huge European band that is relatively obscure here).
I think maybe you just don’t live in a cool enough city. Or maybe you have access to sub-par radio stations. Please..I beg of you..Listen to [url=http://www.kexp.org]http://www.kexp.org[/url] and shop at: http://www.sonicboomrecords.com/catalog/default.asp?searchbox=Morcheeba&all=on
This will instantly bump up your coolness factor *even higher*.
I second the KEXP nomination but am confused about how you haven’t heard of Morcheeba. I’m pretty sure they made at least the college circuit and if they got into Spin (where I think I read about them) then that’s almost mainstream these days. I think of Morcheeba in the same line as Massive Attack and Tricky and that wave came and went around 1998 or earlier, if I’m not mistaken (which makes me confused about the whole notion of being “cool” since you discovered them now). Still, I’m willing to check out their music since I don’t have any and can’t swear I’ve heard it.
Okay, as it turns out, I’m just old and out of touch, which isn’t really a shock to anyone. Morcheeba can easily (and cheaply) be obtained at Deep Discount CD.
You might also enjoy Zero 7, Thievery Corporation, and The Supreme Beings of Leisure.
the boy and i call morcheeba, zero 7 and the like ‘coffee core’...since it’s always playing in starbucks and such.
I second Thievery Corporation and will add Amun Ra - they’re not just trip hop, they’re “kinetic world-infused trip hop” (but extremely good)
Try anything the “Garden State” soundtrack, especially Frou Frou.
And aside from the whole KEXP thing, Morcheeba is all over Seattle radio.
God, don’t you hate it when you find something that really turns you on and everybody else is like “oh yeah no doubt I went through that years ago.”
I’m just happy there’s another stateside Morcheeba-lover. It’s amazing to me that they haven’t really broken through here yet. BTW, sometimes Trio plays a pretty good concert footage thingy of theirs from a while back. Look for it.
Beth mentioned KEXP - it’s the only radio station I listen to (streaming). I highly recommend it.
The GD slowed down FOTD circa 1991, around the time they migrated from coke to heroin as the drug of choice. It evolved from its country/bluegrass origins evoking youthful optimism to a slow, sad anthem of lost chance and regret. Not that any of this matters, I’m only leaving this note because the smog check station is checking my car and they provide internet access while you wait. I figured Geese Aplenty would be in the browser history waiting for other smog checking customers to discover it there.
“...whereas Morcheeba’s CDs aren’t even available on Amazon US.”
Wow. When you said jetlag, you weren’t kidding. Maybe I get a special insider bonus selection page because I work here, but right now I’m looking at 44 new, used, and import selections from the aforementioned Morcheeba on Amazon.com. You sure you weren’t typing Counting Crows into the search function and getting annoyed because “Big Calm” just wasn’t showing up?
Viktor, that’s entirely possible. To be sure, though, please have your company send the entire Morcheeba catalog to me immediately, free of charge. That’s Geese Aplenty c/o P.O. Box Geese Aplenty, Geese Aplenty, CA.
I’ll get right on that. Just stand out by your mailbox and wait patiently. They’ll arrive any day now. Really. And remember, the USPS delievers rain, sleet, snow, or hail, so no matter what the weather, just keep waiting.
I have smelled BS in RE: Counting Crows since their leap to national notoriety. One night I was working in SF when they were having a showcase in order for T-Bone Burnett to check them out and decide if he was gonna produce that first lp, which I guess he did. Anyhow, it was hot that night and the place was pretty full. Everybody was standing around stageside sweaty and ready to go. I watched Adumb D grab a big olive drab surplus coat and put it on before hitting the stage. Under all of those lights...it was retarded. he then lost the coat a few songs in, and I felt like, ‘they suck forever’. Showmanship’s fine, but it stunk of pretense.
it must be duritz.
i think everyone has dated him.
except me.
the entire cast of friends dated him. including the monkey. but not matt leblanc. he had an issue with duritz’s hair.
to which i say: totally understandable.
interestingly, it’s really one of the few things leblanc and i agree on.