Morcheeba have recently released their latest studio album Blackest Blue, independently via their own label Fly Agaric Records. >
To celebrate the album release the band has announced a series of events: their first headline UK show at O2 Brixton Academy in London on Thursday 9th December 2021. Tickets will go on sale at 12pm on Friday 14th May and will be available from www.gigsandtours.com / www.morcheeba.uk.
The band will warm up their live set ahead of their Brixton headline show with a special live streamed performance filmed at RAK Studios in London on June 5th – tickets available here.
In March 2020, Skye Edwards and Ross Godfrey were nearing the end of another long tour – they can go two years without visiting the same country twice – and the diary suddenly emptied. Tourbus parked, they began writing what became their tenth album Blackest Blue. By December 2020, theyd finished 10 lustrous new songs touching on disintegrating familial and romantic relationships, love and kinship, the world around and the consolations of cannabis. On tour, Morcheeba is Skye (vocals), Ross (guitar), Dom Pipkin (keys), Skyes husband Steve Gordon (bass) and Skyes eldest son Jaega Mckenna-Gordon (drums). In the studio its mostly just Skye and Ross – he plays guitar, bass, organ, synths, drums and percussion. There werent so many pressures so we could really take our time getting the songs right, says Edwards. Morcheeba albums are only finished when Ive gone completely insane, Ross humorously adds.
The result of this time is a refined collection that fuses previous incarnations and sound of the band – such as downbeat, chill, electro-pop & soul – into one cohesive record that delves into the soul of the bands genre-mashing musical heritage. As usual, the band didnt approach the album with any pre-conceptions, and instead created an organic journey that represents everything great about Morcheeba.
Edwards lyrics are primarily focused on positivity and overcoming personal adversity that lies within. Sounds Of Blue, is a stunning cut that puts Skye Edward’s sultry vocals to the forefront, floating high above an ethereal backdrop. The duo let go, writing and playing what they felt like. Speaking about lead single Sounds of Blue, I had a poem Id written about my free diving experience in Thailand, Skye says. Oh Oh Yeah is a song about getting stoned. Back in the day we didnt think about the A&R guy, the single, the we need to hear the chorus in 30 seconds. Youd have seven, eight-minute songs. So we went for it.
The title Blackest Blue comes from a lyric in album track The Moon. Originally by Irena Žilić, a Croatian singer-songwriter, Ross fell in love with the song when they shared a bill in Zagreb with Irena and asked her permission to cover it. Skye added another verse to it and its there Blackest Blue was born.
Perhaps Skyes gloriously unruffled vocal tone means some people dont catch the darkness in lyrics like Put your knife away, Ive already cut my heart out on the album opener or the despairing Aint gonna lie / Feel like I wanna die from Killed Our Love. Theres plenty of hurt that walks with the hope when Skye sings.
The album includes features with Duke Garwood (known for his work with Mark Lanegan, amongst others) on closing track The Edge of The World and Brad Barr (The Slip, The Barr Brothers). I managed to get hold of him on the phone and asked him to be on our album, says Godfrey on how they came to collaborate with Barr. I sent him a rough piano demo I had played and he sent back the bones of Say its Over. Skye completed the melody and a lyric and we had a stone cold break up song on our hands. It is a real stand out track for me, heavy as a ton.
Morcheebas global reach is impressive, taking them to every corner of the world . Their signature chilled electronic/organic sound has been border-hopping ever since the London-based band emerged as a household name. The past year has been one of introspection for the duo, as they take stock of their renewed global fan base and look forward to being able to play the new album live this summer playing UK and European festivals ahead of their own headline show at London O2 Brixton Academy on Thursday December 9th.
In the UK Morcheeba will headline the main stage of Pub In The Park in Dulwich on June 25th. Bands In The Sands, Perranporth Beach on July 24th. The Big Feastivals main stage on Friday, August 27th. Victorious Festival in Portsmouth on Saturday 2th August. Gone Wild Festival with Bear Grylls in Kenton on Sunday August 29th. Followed by their own headline. For more information and tickets visit: www.morcheeba.uk.
