Fragments of Freedom

Morcheeba

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 1, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 1, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00004VVZ4
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,193 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Dance & Electronic > Trip-Hop

Track Listings

1. World Looking In

2. Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

3. Love is Rare

4. Let it Go

5. A Well Deserved Break

6. Love Sweet Love (feat Mr. Complex)

7. In the Hands of the Godz (feat. Biz Markie)

8. Shallow End

9. Be Yourself

10. Coming Down Gently

11. Good Girl Down (feat. Bahamadia)

12. Fragments of Freedom

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Sean Granger (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Should have been called "Fragments of Clichés", September 19, 2000

By	Carl N. Eldana "eldana" (Antelope Valley, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well, I made the mistake of buying this cd without listening to it first. I normally would do that, but I went ahead and got it solely based on the merits of the group's first two albums. I LOVE "Who can you trust" and "The Big Calm." I don't know what happened with this effort. Perhaps no *effort* was put into it in the first place?! The music and lyrics are marred with cliché after cliché. Many of the songs seem like a pathetic try at being disco-esque rather than laid back trip-hop. This style just doesn't work here, though it has worked on some recent albums (ie: Beck's "Midnite Vultures." I'm sorely disappointed with "Fragments of Freedom" and will try to sell it before people realize just how bad it is. If you're interested in Morcheeba and don't have their albums yet, go with the first two. If you already have the first two, save your money and hope that their next album warrants more than two stars.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars "Fragments": Please don't waste your time!, August 13, 2000

By	One very disappointed fan (USA) - See all my reviews

It is with great pain and sorrow that I write this review. I say this because until the release of the collection in question, there was no greater Morcheeba fan on the planet. I love "Who can you Trust", and have enjoyed "Big Calm" over and over again. However, "Fragments" is quite simply the most disappointing musical purchase I have ever made. Unfortunately, I bought the CD after reading several reviews that rated it poorly. In retrospect, I thought "Skye is still doing the vocals", how bad could it be? Well, one star is one too many! I urge you, "resist".......don't buy it! Skye, if you read this. Please consider a solo carreer. The song writing is terrible, "Rome wasn't built in a day, hey, hey, hey" (actual lyrics). The instrumentals questionable, (who idea was the banjo/ country guitar on "World looking in" (I'm not kidding) and what in the world is "A well deserved break". The only song that even reminds you of either of the first two, is the title selection. Which of course, was the last cut on the CD. Way too little, way too late.