Statues [Extra tracks, Import]

Moloko | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 24, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Japanese Import
• ASIN: B00006LIX0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,649 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Familiar Feeling

2. Come On

3. Cannot Contain This

4. Statues

5. Forever More

6. Blow X Blow

7. One Hundred Per Cent

8. The Only Ones

9. I Want You

10. Over And Over

11. Familiar Feeling (Timo Maas Main Mix) (Bonus Track)

12. Familiar Feeling (Martin Buttrich Remix) (Bonus Track)

Editorial Reviews

'Statues' is the fourth album by the Sheffield-formed club-pop act, Moloko, marrying the vocals of Roisin Murphy and production techniques of Mark Brydon. It follows their previous studio album, 2000's 'Things To Make And Do', which included the smash-hit single, 'The Time Is Now'. Included here isthe single, 'Familiar Feelings'. Echo. 2003. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST CD Of 2003 - STATUES by MOLOKO, December 24, 2003

By 

TOP MAN "Mark" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statues (Audio CD)

Generally speaking, one has to be highly motivated regarding a CD to take the time to compose a review for Amazon.com. Contributing writers usually must either absolutely LOVE or HATE a record enough to want to share their strong feelings with the rest of the world.

And admittedly, that is exactly why I write to you today.

Simply stated, STATUES - the fourth album by MOLOKO - immediately established itself as the BEST CD OF THE YEAR when it was released in Europe in March 2003 - a distinction that no other recording ever came close to claiming for the balance of the year.

2003 was a relatively strong year for popular music including incredible records released by MUSE, PLACEBO, OUTKAST, MASSIVE ATTACK, THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, THE CORAL, FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE, SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, BLUR, THE ROOTS and many others. But as 2003 draws to a close, STATUES still stands head and shoulders above the rest.

I have been a fan of MOLOKO since the first time I heard one of their tunes - FUN FOR ME - on a compilation CD in 1996. MOLOKO is comprised of MARK BRYDON - who handles most of the composition, production, instrumental and arrangement duties - and the incomparable vocalist/lyricist ROISIN MURPHY. From the beginning of their recording career, MOLOKO have defied classification. They have a reputation primarily as a somewhat quirky, dance-oriented pop duo. But that is far to simple a label for this band that has always taken a very unique approach to the genre of dance/pop. From early on, their trademark sound and sophisticated recordings have always featured truly inventive songs played on REAL instruments, very meaningful lyrical content and, of course, the incredible vocals of ROISIN MURPHY.

While MOLOKO's first three CD's are far superior to most of what is "out there" in terms of popular music, their prior recordings have sometimes been a bit too inconsistent, quirky and clever to achieve "masterpiece" status. Nonetheless, each of these past collections has been an improvement over its predecessors and all have contained significant moments of brilliance while also displaying a willingness to take true creative risks. While MOLOKO is probably best known in the U.S. for their massive worldwide dance floor hit from 1999 - SING IT BACK - that irresistible tune doesn't even begin to reflect the incredible breadth and scope of their body of recorded work. The band truly began to gel with the 2000 release of THINGS TO MAKE AND DO that contained 8 or 9 magnificent tracks, including two absolute classics in THE TIME IS NOW and ABSENT MINDED FRIENDS, songs that still take my breath away every time I hear them. But even that record was flawed by a handful of filler cuts and the unnecessary brief oddball transitional pieces that have cluttered all of their previous CD's.

But STATUES represents a truly stunning landmark in their development as a band on a number of levels. For the first 6-7 years of MOLOKO's existence, Brydon and Murphy were involved in a long-term personal relationship in addition to being band mates. However, that personal relationship came to an end last year prior to the recording of STATUES. Fortunately for the world, MOLOKO nonetheless decided to carry on with their creative and professional partnership and the subtle echo of this transition in their relationship and lives is unmistakable throughout STATUES.

But make no mistake, STATUES is NOT an overly reflective or morose collection of songs. In fact, the opposite is true. This CD absolutely bubbles with life and is overflowing with an embarrassment of creative musical riches.

But clearly there is much more focus and seriousness of purpose reflected in STATUES than in their prior efforts. For example, the album consists of only 10 tracks instead of the average of 16-18 included on their prior CD's. But each of these songs represents a fully realized and brilliantly executed musical vision and there isn't a single wasted moment or sound on the entire collection. And while Roisin Murphy has always been a gifted lyricist, she has ascended to an entirely new level of brilliance on STATUES, composing and singing true poetry in words that clearly come from her heart as well as her mind.

But while there are unmistakable personal themes in evidence throughout STATUES, the songs themselves run the gamut of styles and the album is, as expected, overwhelmingly up-tempo and optimistic in tone.

One other MAJOR added element to the signature sound of MOLOKO throughout STATUES are the complex and brilliant horn and string arrangements written for virtually every track courtesy of Mark Brydon and longstanding MOLOKO keyboardist EDDIE STEVENS, who is now the "official" third member of the band.

These arrangements add incredible sonic dimension to STATUES and yet are never heavy-handed, and include energetic jazzy brass bursts on some of the funkier tunes as well as use of a full 50-piece symphonic orchestra on a couple of others. Song highlights on STATUES include several instant high-energy dance classics such as CANNOT CONTAIN THIS and I WANT YOU), the soul-burning disco of FOREVER MORE, and one of the most awe-inspiring album closers of all time in the fully orchestrated (and...almost ten minute long!) OVER AND OVER.

While MOLOKO have had a significant string of hit records and a sizable growing following in Europe, it is almost criminal that they are not HUGE superstars in the USA as well. If you are not familiar with MOLOKO, no words that I could possibly write will adequately describe their unique brand of musical magic. But PLEASE... do yourself a favor and experience the brilliance of this record. Even if you have been aware of the band in the past...you are still in for incredibly pleasing surprise in STATUES by MOLOKO, far and away the finest pop musical moment in 2003!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I cant erase the smile on my face, February 2, 2005

By 

J. H. Infante (Guadalajara, Ja, Mex) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statues (Audio CD)

I just get this awesome cd as a gift from one cousin of mine and im so happy , Moloko delivers in "statues" deligthfull soul and acid jazz that they have been offering in past productions but now they use electronic beats, sinthetizers , and a few artificial but delicious rithm sections, also the sound of Moloko is so british and therefore it has a natural charm very enjoyable for just a few eclectic audiences, check out "statues" only import edition is available and for this reason is a expense adquisition but it worths cent by cent , or pound by pound, should i say
HM

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius!, January 14, 2005

By 

N.Jay (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Statues (Audio CD)

Words cannot do this album justice. This time around, Moloko take you on a journey to a magical place you never want to leave. The production is superbly crafted without a second of mediocrity and Roisin has never sounded better! From start to finish the sound is warm and rich; gone are all the filler tracks from Moloko albums of the past. Songs like "Forever More" and "100%" pulsate and demand you get up and move, leaving you in a frenzy of ecstatic bliss. But the three slower tracks are just as hypnotizing: "Statues," "The Only Ones" and the 10 minute long "Over and Over" are beautifully melancholic and it comes as no surprise that Roisin sounds just as breathtaking here as she does in funkier parts of the album. In terms of lyrical content, Moloko have also grown tremendously over the years. They have managed to craft an overall upbeat album with lyrics that often straddle a darker, more pensive side. It is impossible for me to pick a favorite track because each and every one is just so great. Moloko have just been getting progressively better over the years and all the steps taken have been in the right direction. The remixes for this album are also top notch and I must add that Roisin's solo album "Sequins" is to be released this May!

Simply put, this album is absolutely amazing and I too am baffled as to why it did not take off the way it should have. It is truly sad to know that the last three Moloko albums were not even released in the US, despite "Sing It Back" being a huge success. This subsequently means no hope of ever seeing them live over here! I can only hope Moloko keep on making music because they are a hidden treasure amidst a sea of uninspired trash.