Dive Deep

The sixth album in the best traditions of Morcheeba

Most probably the times when Morcheeba created exclusively rhythm based trip hop have remained in the past. Brothers Godfrey's latest record The Antidote recorded with the participation of a new vocalist has proved to be the first step on the way to a sounding closer to pop music, and this year the musicians release their new album Dive Deep that continue their search of a new style. This time the vocal parts are performed by various artists' whose voices combine perfectly well with the complicated graceful arrangements carried out at the highest level. Stylistically Dive Deep is rather a lounge music representative offering both pleasant pop tunes framed in the multilayered instrumentation and harder compositions expressing quite negative emotions. The sixth album has been recorded in the best traditions of Morcheeba, containing more than enough examples of unusual electronic processing, breathtaking vocal moments and beautiful tunes but on the whole the talented brothers' music has become much calmer and wiser than before.

No failure compositions on Dive Deep

Rich in most varied emotions from melancholy to indignation Dive Deep offers thirteen splendid compositions among which it is impossible to single out neither a failure nor the most successful one, and this allows Morcheeba confirm once again its most serious approach to recording a new material. The album opens with the first single Enjoy The Ride featuring Judy Tzuke, whose nice vocals make the soft melodious composition especially delicious, and the contribution of Thomas Dybdahl to track Riverbed, based on guitars and a reflective beat, is by no means less precious due to his pleasant falsetto. Song Run Honey Run based on a Celtic melody with the participation of Bradley, a heavier number with some rock elements, is a brilliant ballad with metaphoric lyrics and interesting audio effects. French singer Manda joins Morcheeba on three songs, each of which has something unique to offer. Gained The World is refined with a relaxing beat, Au Dela is performed in French and could well be called a lullaby if its melody was not that worrisome and the singing not that emotional, and Flowers is the hardest tracks on Dive Deep softened only by the singer's gentle voice. Rapping performed by Cool Calm Pete on One Love Karma against the background of a laid back piano lead accompaniment is one of the brightest moments on the album, and another composition with Judy Tzuke Blue Chair turns out to be a much more interesting number than the first track as here the singer's voice covers a wider range, and at the end the song is refined with a cat's murmuring. The album's final composition The Ledge Beyond The Edge is again refined with rapping and a tense tune and the arrangement loaded with special effects makes it the hardest track on Dive Deep.

Stylistic integrity and the change of mood throughout

It goes without saying that the fans of Morcheeba's older material can think the new record to be too light and not rhythmical enough but one can by no means state that the collective's music has changed to the worse. Brothers Godfrey continue surprising with fine creations that one is eager to listen to again and again. It is especially pleasant to turn on Dive Deep after a difficult working day or at weekend when one wants to relax or be alone for some time. Some tracks on the new record remind of Enigma's music if given a more electronic sound, and on other songs rapping causes absolutely different associations. Thus with all the stylistic integrity the album manages to provide the change of mood throughout which is one of the inseparable characteristics of Morcheeba's music. Although songs on Dive Deep cannot be called too joyful most of them are able to highten your spirits or at least distract from unpleasant thoughts. It is worth while hoping that the creative search of the musicians will not end here and their next work will prove to be not less interesting and of a high quality than this wonderful album.