Customer Reviews

Ruby Blue

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was watching "So You Think You Can Dance" with my wife and we caught a cool song called "Ramalama (Bang Bang)". My ears are going so we had captioning on, which tells you the artist and song. I quickly jotted down the name and went looking online for the song and album.

Wow, what a great find this turned out to be. I've done two straight-through listens in addition to a few shuffle-plays with other songs, and I've finally figured out all the tastes I'm hearing.

It's Bjork and Aphex Twin with classic AM radio female vocals a la Carly Simon, with some inevitable Kate Bush/ Tori Amos splashed in. Ultimately, you have and have not heard anything like this album. The ingredients, yes, but the dish? All its own, and it works very well. Enjoyable and quirky, and I think because I'm going through a jazz phase now, it resonates deeper within me than if I were to bne traveling through, say, my death metal or Hendrix phases.

Worth picking up, for sure, but maybe a note of caution for more conservative listeners, it's something to give a dedicated ear to appreciate.

-Fred

I confess I was introduced to Roisin Murphy courtesy of Fox's hit show "So You Think You Can Dance". The Ramalama song stuck in my head and I simply had to know more about the artist. And so I found Ruby Blue. And I am thrilled I did!

Fabulous and funky, this CD defies classification. Murphy's voice is captivating as she deftly toys with the listener, soaring through the scales, leaping from a smoky alto to a crystal soprano with never a falter. If this gal doesn't top the charts it will be wholly a marketing failure because vocally she delivers the goods, making the exquisite effortless. She is a joy to listen to and has not only one of the most unique, but one of the best female voices I've heard in quite some time, leaving the likes of Beyonce, Carey, Dion and Krall totally in the dust.

Now I've gushed about the artist, one might wonder at the 4-star review. This is only a caution to those looking for "mainstream" because not one of these tunes comes ANYWHERE near that categorization (which is what makes them so FABULOUS). A little jazz, a little funk, a little hip-pop (yes, that's pop and not hop), even a little Asian and Indian influence. If you're open minded and love creative music and stellar vocals, do NOT pass this one up!!

You know her best as the eccentric pop voice in Moloko, that wacky dancepop group that turned out some of the U.K.'s best electronica. Alas, after 2003's "Statues," Moloko is no more. But lead vocalist Roisin Murphy is just beginning... her solo career, that is.

Don't expect Moloko's experimental pop, however. In "Ruby Blue," Murphy tries out some entirely new sounds such as jazz, low-key trip-hop and funky piano-pop, with a slightly psychedelic quirky edge. Sometimes it suits her unique vocals, and sometimes not -- more often than not, the wild little songs work out just fine.

"Ruby Blue" slinks into our ears with "Leaving the City," a jumbled pop melody full of tinny percussion and subtle horns. Murphy sings in a dreamy manner over the quirky arrangements. This gives a feel for what the album's sound is going to be like: It's not like her past work, but not like anything else either, really.

After that comes a string of unusual dancepop -- rather than your usual electronica, there's a funky, jazzy, slightly insane edge to Murphy's music. Yes, there's some keyboard on there, yet songs like the wild "Night of the Dancing Flame" or the fiery, bouncy "Ramalama (Bang Bang)" rely more on the organic drums and beats.

Not all songs on "Ruby Blue" are that much fun; "Through Time," for example, is pretty but unexciting compared to the other songs here. It's midtempo but very steady and quiet, and so after a while it gets boring to listen to. And the finale is a pretty song, yet somehow doesn't fit in with the rest of the album. Murphy doesn't sound entirely comfortable over a simple piano ballad.

In fact, Murphy's quirky, breathless vocals work best when she's singing over earthy beats and trippy tunes. When the songs are quirky and wild, she sounds amazing. In the quieter songs, she sounds distinctly out of place, not unlike a country singer trying to rap. Not bad, but a bit square-peggish.

Some of the songs lag a bit, or don't fit around Roisin Murphy's style. But "Ruby Blue" is an entertaining, slightly bizarre solo debut. Lots of fun.

Roisin Murphy has done it again, this time minus Mark Brydon, former boyfriend and co-member of the truly phenomenal duo/group Moloko. Roisin for years had provided exceptional vocals for songs like "Fun For Me", "Sing It Back", "The Flipside", "Forever More", et al, with otherworldly beats from Brydon. Now she does it alone, this time with personal fave and phenom phenomenon, Herbert Matthews doing the producing--the man who brought us "100 Lbs", "Around the House", "Bodily Functions", "Goodbye Swingtime", and Dani Siciliano's "Likes". Herbert has collaborated with Moloko in the past, so it was only natural that he produce Murphy's solo debut, "Ruby Blue". This is a release to be herald as "CD of the Year!," for when Murphy and Matthews come together they make as much musical magic as Brydon and Murphy did as Moloko. Roisin's vocals have matured tremendously since the days of "Do You Like My Tight Sweater" and her whimisical almost cartoonish lyrics and vocal abilities have all but gone away, leaving a more refined and serious overtone that compliments her well--reminiscent of her vocals on "Statues". She now croons with a twisted-hypnotic beauty that would sink ships--Hell! I almost wrecked my truck listening to "If We're In Love." Roisin also migrates into slightly experiemental territory on songs like "Night of the Dancing Flame" and "Ramalamabangbang", which are hard to listen to at first, but after a few plays on a good sound-system, they both sound excellent!

Herbert has produced some good music that ranges from styles of jazz to rock to r&b to funk to folk to dance and everything else in between. His productions can almost be likened to that of Purple Rocker Prince circa 1980s, which by no means is a bad thing--just listen to the bassline in "Dear Diary" and the melodies of "Through Time"!

Moloko-fans may be slightly disappointed at this more "sedated" Roisin Murphy, but trust me in time with repeat listenings you'll appreciate it. "Ruby Blue" should not be overlooked by any means. A true accomplishment from a woman who's doing it on her own. Highly recommended!!!

Roisin--I'm "Sow Into You", Baby! ("sniggle"--I could not resist!)

My wife asked me to buy this for her. I had never heard of Roisin Murphy before, which piqued my interest, so I tried it out. And, Wow, I was quite impressed.

The songs on "Ruby Blue" are really diverse. I found this in the "Electronica" section of my local shop, but it's unfair to pigeonhole this album as just Electronica. At times, it almost crosses over to what might be considered "World Beat" section.

Her voice is great; she's very intriguing. The beats on this album are good, mostly upbeat, danceable. The songs are good in terms of verses and choruses. Nothing is tooooo catchy (ie, cheesey), but it's definitely accessible.

This album is so hard to describe and that's what makes it so good. She's clearly a very talented artist and this is well worth picking up.

I've been listening to this album from time to time since its release and I still enjoy it. Roisin Murphy, along with Alison Goldfrapp, would have to be one of the most creative and original female artists in the U.K. at the moment.

This album uses instruments in a most beguiling and colourful way. Roisin Murphy seems to think that there is nothing bass and electric guitars can do that a woodwind and brass ensemble can't do! Why use a bass guitar when a baritone saxophone can do the job just as well? Of course, for added colour and unusual sounds, one just can't beat keyboard synthesizers, sequencers and drum computers and these modern instruments play their part on Ms Murphy's album, too.

The styles of music on this album could be described in various terms; "Trip-Hop", "Lounge", "Experimental Pop", etc. However, I think it would be fair to say that Roisin Murphy has largely "done her own thing" here and approached each song in an individualistic way.

I think that Roisin Murphy is capable of great things and I think that she can and should easily better this album, soon. However, "Ruby Blue" is a fascinating album jam-packed with songs which suggest all sorts of future musical directions.

There seems to be no boundaries in music for Roisin Murphy. "Ruby Blue" is a wonderfully eclectic and fresh piece of music, rich with wide range of Roisin's powerful, smoky vocals and a whole plenty of weird, addictive sounds that really stick in your head. The producer, Matthew Herbert did a brilliant job and proved himself as an original and open-minded musician. I guess the effect was meant to be marvellous from the very beginning of this unusual collaboration of two creative and courageous minds.

"Ruby Blue" is a must-have for every demanding music fan.

Neurotic, haphazard, jazzy, and purely brilliant. I need not go on, because you can look to the previous reviews for individual track commentary; I only add that, if you can see yourself describing a (potential) favorite CD using any of the words I used above, then you will at least admire (and hopefully love) Roisin Murphy's solo debut. She's moved away from Moloko, drawing from its best qualities, and has added her own unique flavor -- the beats, the sounds, and the atmosphere, to creat something truly delicious.

My only negative comment is that a few of the final, slow tracks lose a bit of Roisin Murphy's magic. But, I'm so impressed with the majority of the tracks (all of which I love equally) that she still deserves 5 stars in my mind.

"Ruby Blue" is without a doubt one of my favorite releases this year.

I hated this album the first time I listened to it. I really did. Totally didn't understand it and was expecting accessible pop gems like "Sing It Back." Or maybe that first day I just wasn't in the mood to listen to an incredible piece of pop art like RUBY BLUE. Because it is amazing. Roisin's voice is flawless and Herbert pushes the concept of music with bizarre arrangements and creative sounds. The only weak spot on this album is the very last song-- I haven't even taken the time to remember what the name of it is. But it's boring and it just doesn't hit me. But the rest of the album is perfect to put on when you're laying by the pool on a hot summer day-- or just laying anywhere. I'm looking forward to what Roisin has to offer in the future. I just hope some US record exec gets wise and they start releasing her albums over here.

Róisín Murphy moves out of the shadow of Moloko (ignoring the fact that she was Moloko's main draw) and into her own spotlight, with Herbert handling the production duties. And the resulting album, _Ruby Blue_, shows both of them at their best. Herbert's glitchy melodies (on "Leaving the City," for example) leaves Murphy's vocals front and center, emphasizing the eccentric quality of both artists. The music is incredibly varied, from the deep jazz of "Sinking Feeling" to the wild New Orleans-on-acid of "Night of the Dancing Flame." But Murphy really gets going with three stunning tracks in a row: first, the sweetly romantic "Through Time," then the straightforwardly funky house "Sow Into You," and finally, "Dear Diary" returns to romance, if slightly more attenuated and more danceable. The deep and mysterious "Rama Lama (Bang Bang)" turns Murphy's vocals into a rhythmic instrument itself, while the title track takes a wobbly approach to melody. The simple romantic sadness of "The Closing of the Doors" ends the album with a wistful sigh. Herbert & Murphy = a match made in heaven.