Search - Morcheeba :: Back to Mine

WARNING: Not A Morcheeba album, but a gateway to great music

Manny Hernandez | Bay Area, CA | 09/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album comes as part of the now-famous "Back to Mine" series, which in the past has highlighted works and inspiration for artists ranging from Groove Armada and Faithless, to (most recently) Everything But The Girl.This album combines some deep and sometimes rare influences on the work of Morcheeba that range from blues (Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya) to Rap, Trip Hop and some least expected rhythms (how about bossanova?), considering we're talking about Morcheeba here.The true beauty of this album is dual: it allows you to peek inside the brain and heart of Morcheeba, as to what are some of the sources of their inspiration. But most important was for me that it unleashed for me some fascinating artists, both old (such as David McCallum, lounge-style "The Edge") and new (such as Southern Gothic singer/songwriter Jim White -"Still Waters"); and it brilliantly mixes some contemporary material (such as Missin' Linx's "What It Is") with stuff brought out of closet like Taj Mahal's "Chevrolet.""

Deconstructing Morcheeba

Carlo San Juan | Metro Manila, Philippines | 12/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If we were to take the word of the Back to Mine series (that artists compile a set of chill-out songs that have inspired them)then this album would help us understand the enigma that is the ever-evolving group known as Morcheeba. The varying styles that encompass Morcheeba's first three albums are brought together into this album and it shows us just what the heck they are. There's a little touch of chemistry that each of these songs bring into the group and it is readily apparent to observant fans. So this compilation should indeed please them.
However, would this album turn the heads of those who have not heard of Back to Mine, or for that matter, Morcheeba? In this reviewer's opinion, yes it would. This compilation is, above all, a chill-out album. The term "chill-out" may traverse many genres, from trip-hop to lounge to progressive rock. Here, Morcheeba has brought together a bunch of tracks easy to appreciate and digest even for the chill-out uninitiated and has somehow touched several genres (which may explain the style swing between the group's previous albums).
Nevertheless, it is very easy to find a better compilation. Still, this album has Morcheeba's flair all over it and is an interesting look into the group's tastes. Perhaps it would be wise to try before you buy."

Cool, funky, strange, edgy

S. London | California | 10/15/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Hats off to Morcheeba for daring to be original. The music featured on this set is just that -- singular, wild, far-flung, and mostly groovy. But also odd. A few of these pieces seem to be included more for their novelty than their quality. A couple of tracks downright suck.Unlike Nick Warren or Danny Tenaglia's "Back to Mine" efforts, for example, this one is disjointed and lacks elegance and finesse. The transitions are fairly haphazard too -- not carefully thought-out and well-crafted. As a DJ myself, I was inspired more by the selection of tunes than the brilliance of the mix. As a listener, I was disappointed in the uneven quality of the songs. On the other hand, Annette Peacock is fabulous, and Alice Russell (formerly of The Chimes) is first-rate. The Taj Mahal classic still rocks. And Dr. John blows my mind... My advice: Of all the "Back to Mine" albums, buy this one last -- long after you have savored Groove Armada and EBTG's timeless and brilliant mixes. Compared with those, this is at best second-rate."