Morcheeba
Morcheeba is an English electronic band formed in the mid-1990s with foundi… Read Full Bio ↴Morcheeba is an English electronic band formed in the mid-1990s with founding members vocalist Skye Edwards and the brothers Paul and Ross Godfrey. They mix influences from trip hop, rock, folk rock and downtempo, and have produced nine regular studio albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.[1] Edwards left the band in 2003, after which the brothers used a number of singers before she rejoined in 2009. They recruit additional members for their live performances and have toured internationally. In 2014 Paul Godfrey resigned from the band. Edwards and Ross Godfrey later formed Skye | Ross and released a self-titled album in September 2016.[2] Their latest studio album as Morcheeba, Blaze Away, was released in June 2018.[3]
Beginnings
Originally from the small town of Saltwood,[4] just north of Hythe, Kent, the Godfrey brothers—DJ/producer Paul Godfrey and multi-instrumentalist Ross Godfrey—moved to London when they were in their late teens.[5][6][7][8] Sometime in the mid 1990s, at a party in Greenwich, the brothers met Skye Edwards, who was singing backup in a funk band, and also played guitar; before too long the three began recording songs together, and formed the trio Morcheeba.[4][9] At first they produced tracks at their home studio,[4] together with engineer Pete Norris.[8][10]
They were eventually signed to China Records[4] by Angus Blair (A&R) and the band released their debut Trigger Hippie EP,[11] in October 1995. At the same time, Paul Ablett came on board as manager.[10] The band's debut album, Who Can You Trust?, was released in April 1996 and fitted into the trip hop genre through a combination of Paul Godfrey's hip hop roots, Ross Godfrey's psychedelic rock influences and Edwards' soul-styled vocals. A second single, "Tape Loop", appeared in July 1996. The band began to play live around Europe and North America,[12] with a live band that included five additional members.[13] At this point, the band had outgrown the home recording set-up and the brothers purchased their own studio.[14] In 1997, they contributed to the David Byrne album Feelings, participating in the recording and production of the release.[8][15][16]
Mainstream success
With a more professional recording set-up, the brothers began developing their ideas for a second album. Much of the material had already been written, and, with Norris involved again, the band moved towards a more mainstream sound.[14] At the same time, Edwards appeared on the BBC charity single "Perfect Day". The follow-up, 1998's Big Calm, moved away from trip hop towards a more pop-oriented, song-based sound. This was exemplified by the band's reworking of "Moog Island" (from their debut) into the pop-song "The Music That We Hear".[17] One of the album's singles, "The Sea", became a radio favourite. The album proved to be a big seller and ensured Morcheeba's success as a breakthrough act.[18] In 1998, Morcheeba collaborated with Hubert Laws to record the classic song "Summer Time" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease.
In 2000, Morcheeba released their third album, Fragments of Freedom. This repeated the sales success of Big Calm but received a less positive critical response. The band's fourth album, Charango, was released in 2002 and saw a diminished role for Edwards. The singles "Otherwise" and "Way Beyond" followed. The lyrics for "Undress Me Now" were written with Lambchop's Kurt Wagner, while other collaborators on the album were with rappers Pace Won and Slick Rick. In January 2003, the band undertook their first significant tour of the US since 1998.[19] In 2001, the Godfrey brothers contributed three songs to the Jim White album No Such Place.[20]
Split
By the end of 2003, the Godfrey brothers split with Edwards, citing creative and personal differences.[21] Edwards received "a phone call from our manager saying that it was over. It was a relief to think we didn't have to continue".[22] She was under the impression that the band had ceased to operate. A greatest hits compilation, Parts of the Process, helped to retain interest in the band and featured two new tracks: "What's Your Name" (featuring a rhyming cameo from Big Daddy Kane) and "Can't Stand It". At around the same time, they released the live DVD Morcheeba: From Brixton to Beijing. A decade later, Ross Godfrey reflected on this period, saying: "We just felt like we couldn't breathe, I'd been in the band and on the road since I was 18, so to have any kind of break from that was just amazing".[23]
The two brothers reunited the year after, leaving Paul to explain that "Ross and I realised that Morcheeba was kind of our family company, and that we wanted very much to keep it going, hence the change".[24] In 2005, Morcheeba released their fifth studio (and first post-Edwards) album, The Antidote. Daisy Martey (formerly of the band Noonday Underground) was recruited to replace Edwards as the album vocalist. However, Martey's period with the band was brief and she was sacked in the middle of the promotional tour, to be replaced by Jody Sternberg. Martey subsequently sued the band for breach of contract and defamation.[25] Sternberg's own tenure with the band was similarly brief, and she only appeared to have been part of the band to fulfil tour dates. According to Ross, the entire episode "was difficult to say the least. It left us in near-ruin".[26]
After a break of several years, Morcheeba released their sixth studio album, Dive Deep, in February 2008. On this album, the Godfrey brothers fell back into their role as producers, selecting five vocalists to perform their songs. The folk-rock singer Judie Tzuke, Norwegian born Thomas Dybdahl and blues singer/guitarist Bradley Burgess appeared as lead vocalists together with the Korean-American rapper Cool Calm Pete and French singer Manda (Amanda Zamolo).[27] Both Manda and Burgess toured with Morcheeba as lead singers on their 2008 tour.
Reunion
As a solo artist, Edwards remained with the same management company as Morcheeba—Chris Morrison the CM of CMO Management represented both artists—which led to a chance meeting in their London offices sometime in 2009. Edwards and the Godfrey brothers met again to discuss her possible involvement in a new project. Initially the singer was hesitant and pointed out that she "really enjoyed doing my solo stuff and writing my own lyrics".[28] Eventually, Edwards rejoined the band and the trio began work on a new album,[21] with Edwards still on tour promoting her solo album, Ross Godfrey living in California and Paul Godfrey in France.[29] On 12 February 2010, NME revealed that Edwards was once again back with the band, which was confirmed by Paul Godfrey the day after on the band's Myspace blog. Edwards made her live return with the band at the Caprices Festival, Switzerland on 9 April 2010.[30] Edwards' role in the band changed, as she had "become more confident" in her "ability as a singer and a songwriter", and found that during the recording process they were "more honest with each other", and thus they produced "a more honest record".[22]
Morcheeba released their seventh album, Blood Like Lemonade, on PIAS in June 2010, preceded by the single "Even Though". It was produced by Paul Godfrey, who described the album as "a warm, fuzzy blanket of psychedelia", while Edwards described the lyrics as "having dark themes".[22] She also remarked on how the brothers had made her part of the creative process again.[28] An eighteen-month tour followed that saw the band play around the Americas and Europe.[31]
Their eighth album, Head Up High, was released on 14 October 2013, again on PIAS.[32] In 2014, the band toured Australia,[33] with a line-up consisting of Skye Edwards (vocals), Ross Godfrey (guitars), Steve Gordon (bass), Richard Milner (keyboards), Martin Carling (drums) and James Anthony (decks).
Departure of Paul Godfrey
In 2014, Paul Godfrey left the band.[34][35] Ross Godfrey later explained that: "Paul and I had not been getting on musically, or personally for a long time, and after the Head Up High album in 2013, Paul told us he was leaving the band, and he wanted Skye and I to buy him out of his share of the name. We disagreed on how much it was worth so no deal was struck. Skye and I thought it best to just release the record we had made under our own names. There will be no more Morcheeba albums".[2] Paul Godfrey has since established a recording studio, Sacrosync Sound, in Hastings and recorded a new album "Cool Your Soul" with Rachel Cuming under the moniker Morcheeba Productions.[36][37]
Ross Godfrey and Skye Edwards announced a new project in 2016 named Skye & Ross.[38] They have toured, and released an eponymous album on 2 September 2016.[39] The band started as an acoustic duo but soon included Edward's son Jaega (drums), her husband Steve Gordon (bass) and Godfrey’s wife Amanda Zamolo (backing vocals).[40][41] Edwards took responsibility for the lyrics while Ross Godfrey noted that the recording process was "a very organic experience".[42]
Beginnings
Originally from the small town of Saltwood,[4] just north of Hythe, Kent, the Godfrey brothers—DJ/producer Paul Godfrey and multi-instrumentalist Ross Godfrey—moved to London when they were in their late teens.[5][6][7][8] Sometime in the mid 1990s, at a party in Greenwich, the brothers met Skye Edwards, who was singing backup in a funk band, and also played guitar; before too long the three began recording songs together, and formed the trio Morcheeba.[4][9] At first they produced tracks at their home studio,[4] together with engineer Pete Norris.[8][10]
They were eventually signed to China Records[4] by Angus Blair (A&R) and the band released their debut Trigger Hippie EP,[11] in October 1995. At the same time, Paul Ablett came on board as manager.[10] The band's debut album, Who Can You Trust?, was released in April 1996 and fitted into the trip hop genre through a combination of Paul Godfrey's hip hop roots, Ross Godfrey's psychedelic rock influences and Edwards' soul-styled vocals. A second single, "Tape Loop", appeared in July 1996. The band began to play live around Europe and North America,[12] with a live band that included five additional members.[13] At this point, the band had outgrown the home recording set-up and the brothers purchased their own studio.[14] In 1997, they contributed to the David Byrne album Feelings, participating in the recording and production of the release.[8][15][16]
Mainstream success
With a more professional recording set-up, the brothers began developing their ideas for a second album. Much of the material had already been written, and, with Norris involved again, the band moved towards a more mainstream sound.[14] At the same time, Edwards appeared on the BBC charity single "Perfect Day". The follow-up, 1998's Big Calm, moved away from trip hop towards a more pop-oriented, song-based sound. This was exemplified by the band's reworking of "Moog Island" (from their debut) into the pop-song "The Music That We Hear".[17] One of the album's singles, "The Sea", became a radio favourite. The album proved to be a big seller and ensured Morcheeba's success as a breakthrough act.[18] In 1998, Morcheeba collaborated with Hubert Laws to record the classic song "Summer Time" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin, which raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease.
In 2000, Morcheeba released their third album, Fragments of Freedom. This repeated the sales success of Big Calm but received a less positive critical response. The band's fourth album, Charango, was released in 2002 and saw a diminished role for Edwards. The singles "Otherwise" and "Way Beyond" followed. The lyrics for "Undress Me Now" were written with Lambchop's Kurt Wagner, while other collaborators on the album were with rappers Pace Won and Slick Rick. In January 2003, the band undertook their first significant tour of the US since 1998.[19] In 2001, the Godfrey brothers contributed three songs to the Jim White album No Such Place.[20]
Split
By the end of 2003, the Godfrey brothers split with Edwards, citing creative and personal differences.[21] Edwards received "a phone call from our manager saying that it was over. It was a relief to think we didn't have to continue".[22] She was under the impression that the band had ceased to operate. A greatest hits compilation, Parts of the Process, helped to retain interest in the band and featured two new tracks: "What's Your Name" (featuring a rhyming cameo from Big Daddy Kane) and "Can't Stand It". At around the same time, they released the live DVD Morcheeba: From Brixton to Beijing. A decade later, Ross Godfrey reflected on this period, saying: "We just felt like we couldn't breathe, I'd been in the band and on the road since I was 18, so to have any kind of break from that was just amazing".[23]
The two brothers reunited the year after, leaving Paul to explain that "Ross and I realised that Morcheeba was kind of our family company, and that we wanted very much to keep it going, hence the change".[24] In 2005, Morcheeba released their fifth studio (and first post-Edwards) album, The Antidote. Daisy Martey (formerly of the band Noonday Underground) was recruited to replace Edwards as the album vocalist. However, Martey's period with the band was brief and she was sacked in the middle of the promotional tour, to be replaced by Jody Sternberg. Martey subsequently sued the band for breach of contract and defamation.[25] Sternberg's own tenure with the band was similarly brief, and she only appeared to have been part of the band to fulfil tour dates. According to Ross, the entire episode "was difficult to say the least. It left us in near-ruin".[26]
After a break of several years, Morcheeba released their sixth studio album, Dive Deep, in February 2008. On this album, the Godfrey brothers fell back into their role as producers, selecting five vocalists to perform their songs. The folk-rock singer Judie Tzuke, Norwegian born Thomas Dybdahl and blues singer/guitarist Bradley Burgess appeared as lead vocalists together with the Korean-American rapper Cool Calm Pete and French singer Manda (Amanda Zamolo).[27] Both Manda and Burgess toured with Morcheeba as lead singers on their 2008 tour.
Reunion
As a solo artist, Edwards remained with the same management company as Morcheeba—Chris Morrison the CM of CMO Management represented both artists—which led to a chance meeting in their London offices sometime in 2009. Edwards and the Godfrey brothers met again to discuss her possible involvement in a new project. Initially the singer was hesitant and pointed out that she "really enjoyed doing my solo stuff and writing my own lyrics".[28] Eventually, Edwards rejoined the band and the trio began work on a new album,[21] with Edwards still on tour promoting her solo album, Ross Godfrey living in California and Paul Godfrey in France.[29] On 12 February 2010, NME revealed that Edwards was once again back with the band, which was confirmed by Paul Godfrey the day after on the band's Myspace blog. Edwards made her live return with the band at the Caprices Festival, Switzerland on 9 April 2010.[30] Edwards' role in the band changed, as she had "become more confident" in her "ability as a singer and a songwriter", and found that during the recording process they were "more honest with each other", and thus they produced "a more honest record".[22]
Morcheeba released their seventh album, Blood Like Lemonade, on PIAS in June 2010, preceded by the single "Even Though". It was produced by Paul Godfrey, who described the album as "a warm, fuzzy blanket of psychedelia", while Edwards described the lyrics as "having dark themes".[22] She also remarked on how the brothers had made her part of the creative process again.[28] An eighteen-month tour followed that saw the band play around the Americas and Europe.[31]
Their eighth album, Head Up High, was released on 14 October 2013, again on PIAS.[32] In 2014, the band toured Australia,[33] with a line-up consisting of Skye Edwards (vocals), Ross Godfrey (guitars), Steve Gordon (bass), Richard Milner (keyboards), Martin Carling (drums) and James Anthony (decks).
Departure of Paul Godfrey
In 2014, Paul Godfrey left the band.[34][35] Ross Godfrey later explained that: "Paul and I had not been getting on musically, or personally for a long time, and after the Head Up High album in 2013, Paul told us he was leaving the band, and he wanted Skye and I to buy him out of his share of the name. We disagreed on how much it was worth so no deal was struck. Skye and I thought it best to just release the record we had made under our own names. There will be no more Morcheeba albums".[2] Paul Godfrey has since established a recording studio, Sacrosync Sound, in Hastings and recorded a new album "Cool Your Soul" with Rachel Cuming under the moniker Morcheeba Productions.[36][37]
Ross Godfrey and Skye Edwards announced a new project in 2016 named Skye & Ross.[38] They have toured, and released an eponymous album on 2 September 2016.[39] The band started as an acoustic duo but soon included Edward's son Jaega (drums), her husband Steve Gordon (bass) and Godfrey’s wife Amanda Zamolo (backing vocals).[40][41] Edwards took responsibility for the lyrics while Ross Godfrey noted that the recording process was "a very organic experience".[42]
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Morcheeba Lyrics
08.Undress Me Now Where there's a will there's a way, you can get…
A Military Coup When the tower tumbled We began anew Had no time for warni…
Almost It's taking time to come around Time to bring me down Now…
Antidote The skill it takes to create The pill to gab a…
Aqualung Battle cries We make the swift retreat Paradise It don't com…
Au Dela Je vis, je meurs Je vis, je pleure Je vide la mer Je…
Baby Você precisa Saber da piscina Da margarina Da Carolina D…
Be Yourself Too much of a good thing Has really burnt me out I'm…
Beat of the Drum As the sun shines down on me The land mass is…
Big Calm Trapped in the skies What am I to do Brothers from another…
Blaze Away It's Morcheeba and Roots Manuva And we are together in unity…
Blindfold Three months in him Can't catch the tears Time never lands O…
Blood Like Lemonade Healing holy man, once upon a time He lived for his…
Blue Chair (He's back) (He's back) I'm not asking you stay forever …
Bulletproof (Instrumental)…
Call It Love Call it love Call it whatever you want if it suits…
Can I never thought this would happen That you would let me…
Charango All this fuss a lil more (more morcheeba) Props from here…
Chevrolet Buy you a Chevrolet Just do somthin' for you Buy…
Col Things have changed this time around I'm on the rocks and…
Crimson On the roadside by the wreckage With my head in my…
Crystal Blue Persuasion Look over yonder What do you see? The sun is a-rising Most d…
Cut My Heart Out Tossed away like a rag doll that you're bored with I'm…
Cut To The Chase When When you you find drugs Analyze them explicit What's…
Daylight Robbery The heavy gangster helps himself Don't have time for no one…
Do You Good All alone now, you look down, I got that feeling Don't…
Easier Said Than Done You know, you have to let go But you're hanging on To…
Enjoy the Ride You shut the gates at sunset After that you can't get…
Enjoy the Wait ( Instrumental )…
Even Though Cast adrift in space no fear By a pepper moon Look at…
Everybody Loves a Loser This time you have to face your future Although it's just…
Face Of Danger By the skin of my teeth, by the sweat of…
Falling Skies In and out of stories All the hope and glory fly…
Fear & Love We always have a choice Or at least I think we…
Finally Found You I must excuse myself 'Cause I can't keep telling myself That…
Find Another Way Stone cold living in the soul forgiven When you go, how…
Flowers What I do girl, I did for you Couldn't see him…
Fragments Of Freedom Uh, uh Uh, uh Maybe you're right Uh, uh Uh, uh Maybe you're…
Free of Debris Take me back there to that warm place Safe state of…
Friction Skye : Locked in a cell for your very last…
Gained the World I heard I lost it on the grapevine I must admit…
Get Along (feat. Pace Won) And so the end begins As thunder rumbles in I just start…
Gimme Your Love Close the door Turn the light off Switch your mind off Make …
God Bless and Goodbye Questions you never answer Glances you'll always miss Too re…
Good Girl Down Roll out the fabric carpet So I can walk Hook up those…
Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya They call me, Dr. John, The Night Tripper Got my sizzling…
Howling Howling, how long, Sounding, so calm, Pounding, so strong, F…
Hypnotized Poison or medicine Black snake has shed its skin Coiled up, …
I Ground down, I know that you'll feel fine If you let…
I'll Fall Apart Time wasted Looking out something that never was to be Other…
In the Hands of Gods Bicka-bicka Biz, bicka- bicka Mark I'm the drunk dance rock…
It's Summertime It's summertime, night's falling Into my home, think I might…
Killed our love Ooh, what a lovely day For it to fail this way Driving…
Let It Go I have enough of all this tension Don't you know I'm…
Let Me See Who can you trust when you need to? Why do we…
Life's Little Tragedy I desire to tumble I walk through the garden I…
Lighten Up I can feel a storm brewing over nothing We were having…
Like a Military Coup When the tower tumbled We began anew Had no time for warning…
Living Hell Locked in a cage By yourself Downtrodden rage Breeds poor he…
love dub Come unite No now don't divide I talking true Listening Fam…
Love is rar You got a rocket in your pocket Why can you just…
Love Sweet Love Hey music man, just play something cool We love the sunshine…
Make Believer Oh, I love my make believer Take me on a trip From…
Mezcal Dream Je guette et je touche, je guette et je toucherai Je…
Military Coup When the tower tumbled We began anew Had no time for warning…
Moog Island Sometimes I get up feeling good but greed gets me…
Namaste We'll say these words and we'll be heard The winning part…
Never An Easy Way I think I slip the net, But I cut myself…
Never Undo Your needs are covered by me Know that I see you…
Oh Oh Yeah Oh oh yeah, oh oh yeah Right on dig it, yeah Oh…
One Love Karma The King of compliments, I'm headed out this weekend My tum…
Otherwise They wanted me here Just to show you my face But when…
Over & Over This will not be easy to say This might be hard…
Paris sur mer Des gens, des bars Paris-sur-Mar Des coups d'un soir Dix foi…
Part of the Process Angry faces, cursing loud, Changing places, falling proud B…
People Carrier Well it was '94 when i dug you up And like…
Public Displays Of Affection They're for all to see Self-contained lovers Welded orally N…
Recipe For Disaster Wanna know why there's a dead guy In my dining room? Hit…
Release Me Now Where there's a will there's a way, you can get…
Riverbed Meet me on the other side It's a brand new start…
Rome Wasn You and me, were meant to be, Walking free, in harmony, One…
Run Honey Run Well I wish I could think of some cliché to…
Sao Paulo Waiting in the club lounge I slot in so systematically I wan…
São Paulo Waiting in the club lounge I slot in so systematicly I wanna…
Say It's Over This will not be easy to say This might be hard…
Self Made Man Sunshine's the master make the hay Hey, make the hay Got m…
Set Your Sails Out of my mind Could be lost in time Where are you…
Shallow End Driving home now we got away Here's to our future at…
Shoulder Holster (Alright) I am the new For reasons I can never explain I spe…
Sleep on It Tonight Don't find me I just got a lot going on Don't tell…
Slow Down Take your time now Feel like standing still Get your bearing…
Slowdown Take your time now Feel like standing still Get your beari…
Small Town You feel frozen But you've been chosen You lay there drunken…
Someday I know moonrise, I know starlight, and I lay my…
Sounds Of Blue A sort of stoned silence Sat on that boat floating out The…
Still Waters Well I was shacked up down in Mobile With a…
Summertime It's summertime, night's falling Into my home, think I might…
Sweet L.A Heavy, you pull on my heart To a lonely scene Tell me,…
Tape Loop Tape loop, keeps on turning round, forever, Patience, love i…
Ten Men Vacations in Europe Sensational scents We made the most of Y…
The Edge Lay it on the line we are bold and beautiful Wide-eyed…
The Great London Traffic Warden Massacre (Instrumental)…
The Ledge Beyond the Edge Now flush it in The grand canyons Black falcons fly I cla…
The Moon The darkest road I've ever seen The hunting ghosts that won'…
The Music That We Hear Sometimes I get up feeling good but greed gets me…
The Sea Flocking to the sea Crowds of people wait for me Sea gulls…
To Be Yeah, yeah, yeah Okay, then Mwaah, voila Better than it's…
To The Grave I wake up every day at dawn And life has come…
Trigger Hippie Tune in, drop out of love, Pull the trigger, I'm a…
Under The Ice Such a steep slope I had to climb But you made…
Undress Me Now Using your mind Imagine our skin Joined at the hip Joined fr…
Washed Away Even if we don't succeed No worries for you and me Even…
Way Beyond Driving with your handbrake on But you can't smell the burni…
What New York Couples Fight About Once a label is on something It becomes an it Like it's…
What New York Couples Fight About (feat. Kurt Wagner) Once a label is on something It becomes an it Like its…
What New Yorkcouples Fight About Once a label is on something It becomes an it Like it's…
What's You Name Uh,Big Daddy K,Morcheeba,Uh,Feel me,Uh Every time I think a…
Whats You Name Uh,Big Daddy K,Morcheeba,Uh,Feel me,Uh Every time I think…
Who Can You Trust? ( Instrumental )…
Women Lose Weight [Chorus] What a surpriser, Open your eyes, A Woman advisor …
Wonder Never Ceases What do you feel When you let go of the wheel Can…
World Looking In Angels Smilin' on my happiness Danger 'Cause the scene is st…
��l Heavy, you pull on my heart To a lonely scene Tell me,…