Fragments of Freedom

Reviewed by:
David Peisner

Imagine a swanky lounge where Shirley Manson rubs elbows with Herbie Hancock and Biz Markie tosses back cocktails with ABBA and you’ll have a good idea what Morcheeba has got cooking. Knocking down the stylistic walls that made earlier albums sound like Portishead for poseurs, this British outfit turns the lights down low and serves up a knee-quivering concoction of soul, jazz, hip-hop, funk, and pop. OK, the band members are still slaves to their influences, but with grooves this good, bondage seems like a damn good time.