Fragments of Freedom

Morcheeba | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B00004VVZ4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (96 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,413 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Morcheeba were once the dreamiest bass-heavy, slow funk-oriented group in all of trip-hopdom, as anyone who's spent time with their 1998 sophomore album, Big Calm, will attest. Fragments of Freedom begins interestingly enough, with the languorous, slide guitar-enhanced track "World Looking In." But things go awry from there; the lyrics are so daft and pale, and the R&B-lite arrangements so limp, that the listener keeps waiting for the group to bust out laughing, then introduce the real music. "Let It Go," with its faux-inspirational chorus and tepid keyboard runs, sounds like the Euro-club music they might play at Epcot Center. By the time Biz Markie shows up with a short, sweet track of old-school boasting halfway through, it's far too late to save this CD. Freedom sounds like a misdirected attempt to reach a larger audience; the result is as appealing as cotton candy that's been dipped in maple syrup, covered with vanilla frosting, and then dropped in the sand. Recommended only as a clear example of how not to make interesting dance-pop with wide appeal. --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

Japanese version of the long awaited follow up to the Brit trip hop trio's 1998, sophomore release 'Big Calm'. Includes the exclusive bonus track, 'Frogmarched To Freedom' and the first single 'Rome Wasn't Built In A Day'. 2000 release. Standard jewelcase --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Sure Thing Gone Wrong, August 1, 2000

By 

Sean Granger - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fragments of Freedom (Audio CD)

I had purchased "Fragments of Freedom" looking forward to the quality music I had come to expect from Morcheeba. The flow of "Big Calm" that placed them in my heart is, sadly, nowhere to be found on this album.

It is definitely more upbeat then their previous albums, yet I feel that it's a style not well suited to their talents. Although the first track, "World Looking In", has more frequently been the one coming through my speakers, it all seems just too pushed. The lyrics bring reminders of a certain sense of pop that I didn't think I was getting myself into upon this album's purchase.

I suppose change is good for anyone, and I don't deny that right to any artist. Yet, I feel this change was pushed possibly by record label execs trying to reach another spectrum of audiences. Unfortunately, though, I don't seem to be a member of that crowd.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Not Big Calm, But It Is Pretty Good, August 1, 2000

By 

Barrett F. Johnson (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fragments of Freedom (Audio CD)

I would agree with the Amazon review that this album is not in any way as good as Big Calm. I would honestly like to give the album 3.5 stars rather than the 4, but I will give Morcheeba the benefit of the doubt based on their previous work of which I am very fond. Unlike Big Calm, or Who Can You Trust, I am not certain that I could listen to Fragments continuously, certainly not as background music. The vocals are too noticable, and the beat a little too dance-y. Having said that, I do like even some of the syrupy tracks, like Rome Wasn't Built in a Day.

As for other tracks, "Let It Go" is not nearly so bad as the Amazon reviewer might have you believe, but I could live without it. The title track for the album should be well-liked by fans looking for the Morcheeba of Big Calm. As to the other tracks, they are all fine. but if I could only take one Morcheeba CD out of a burning house, it would be Big Calm, not Fragments. Having said that, though, I am happy to own it, and suspect I will listen too it a fair amount. However, I have to remember that Big Calm grew on me also. In six months, I might not be able to live without Fragments.

By the way, I just got the CD today, but I have been listening to the tunes for a week via the miracle of Napster. The preview was nice, but 128-bit does not do Sky's voice justice at all.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Fragments Of Rubbish!, September 6, 2000

By 

Ian Creamer (Dublin,Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fragments of Freedom (Audio CD)

Firstly I have to say I am a big Morcheeba fan.I loved the first two albums and was really looking forward to this one after the amazing 'Big Calm'.And I have to say what a terrible dissappointment this c.d. 'Fragments of Freedom' is. The c.d. starts off nicely with an excellent ,smooth,opener-'World Looking In',which is as good as any of their other songs.Then it starts to go downhill with the 2nd song and the first single 'Rome Wasn't Built In A Day'(but this c.d. was probably written in one!).The lyrics on this track are the daftest I've heard in a long while-e.g.'One Fine day, we'll fly away,don't you know Rome wasn't built in a day,Hey,Hey,Hey' -ingenious (It's a real case of 'how do we finish this silly chorus'?)The next 2 tracks are o.k.Trade mark slow paced grooves with a nice mixture of acoustic,electric guitars and on track 4 a nice brass section.Then we have track 5 a dreadful steel drum instrumental which starts off with a dialogue about Florida being hot and violent place. Track 6 takes a sample from Grandmaster Flash-'The Message'-it's not a bad song.Then we have some dreadful songs featuring some weak rap artists-these songs are neither funky or catchy.'Shallow End ' is my 2nd favourite song on the c.d. and it has an excellent disco riff,so currently in vogue.The remaining songs sound like b-side rejects,with nothing particularly good about them. I hope this c.d. is just a temporary abberation for Morcheeba and hopefully the next c.d. will be a big improvement.One final thing is I suppose groups should be admired for trying something new and this c.d. certainly sounds like a group experimenting with a newish sound-but in my opinion they just don't carry it off very well.