They met at a Sheffield party, when Murphy had no prior professional singing experience. Meanwhile, Brydon had a thirteen-year musical résumé, first with Chakk / Hula pioneering EBM (then, aka big beat). Subsequently, within dance music, he formed and produced various pop and house acts, e.g. producing Krush's hit "House Arrest" (1987, FON) and his 1993 Cloud Nine project. Murphy approached Brydon with the chat-up line "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body!", hence their debut album's title. Respectively, 'Moloko' originates from the Nadsat slang word for "milk" (from the Russian, молоко), in Anthony Burgess' novel "A Clockwork Orange".
Recorded while the pair were dating, Do You Like My Tight Sweater? gained notice on underground dance and trip-hop scenes, then more so with I Am Not a Doctor (Jul 1998, Echo). The latter yielded "Sing It Back", which broke Moloko into the mainstream. Remixed by house producer Boris Dlugosch, "Sing It Back (Boris Musical Mix)", was a massive Ibiza hit and entered the top-five of 1999 weekly UK singles charts, helped by a psychedelic video featuring Murphy in a very short metallic flapper dress and cap. "Sing It Back" was eventually featured on more than 110 music compilations. Dlugosch's remix also appears on faux radio station Rise FM in the action-adventure game "GTA: Liberty City Stories" (2005, Rockstar Games).
In 2000 Moloko started touring as a full band along with percussionist Paul Slowly, keyboardist Eddie Stevens, and guitarist Dave Cook.
The band also had chart success with "The Time Is Now", the first single from their third album, Things to Make and Do. This album had relied less on the leftfield beats of the previous albums, and featured more organic instrumentation.
Murphy and Brydon ended their relationship in 2001. After their breakup they recorded and released their fourth and final studio album, Statues, in 2003. Statues continued a segue into more traditional instrumentation, along with electronica elements from their earlier releases. The album majorly incorporated the theme of the couple's split: all of the songs deal with a troubled and/or ending romance.
In 2004 Moloko released a live DVD, 11,000 Clicks, recorded on stage at the Brixton Academy. It contained many of their well known songs including "Indigo", "Sing It Back", and "The Time Is Now".
After concluding the tour supporting Statues, Moloko mutually parted ways, with Róisín Murphy launching a solo career.
A "best of" album, Catalogue, was released in 2006. Murphy and Brydon, along with long-time Moloko guitarist Dave Cook, played a select number of acoustic radio performances to promote the album.
Since 2006 they have been on an indefinite hiatus.
Downsized
Moloko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't last, so fast you blast kinetic energy
I can't erase the memory
If I put a foot wrong
You could laugh out loud, like you've been laughing to yourself all along
Such lies, sweet hush of lullabies
In a small town loose talk it kind of gets around
I must reject all that I once believed
I've been deceived
Behind my back
I am quietly and suredly under attack
Downsized I guess I shouldn't be surprised
Two faced the time has come to be replaced
Betrayal, tiny minds
Something sinister's going on behind
You were my downfall
See me crawl, one and all
If I could only be a fly on the wall
Nothing is clear
So sincere in my ear
You look so pretty when you sneer
Behind the smile, sweet child
You were grinding your teeth all the while
Betrayed, low grade
Always delayed
Did you ever have the slightest intention to stay?
(Doo duh dee-dumb doo duh doo)
The lyrics to Moloko's song "Downsized" seem to detail the experiences of someone who has been betrayed and deceived by a former friend or partner. The singer addresses this person as their "dearest enemy" and asks them to explain what they think of them. The dynamic between the two seems to be one where the other person is constantly critical and judgmental, attacking the singer with "kinetic energy" whenever they make a mistake. The singer feels like they are constantly being watched, with their faults and shortcomings being picked apart by the other person. Despite this, they can't seem to forget how things used to be between them, and the memory of their relationship lingers on.
The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's feelings of betrayal and anger towards the other person. They feel like they have been "downsized", or replaced, and that something sinister is going on behind their back. They refer to the other person as "two-faced" and imply that they are not to be trusted. Meanwhile, the singer feels like they are being forced to crawl and suffer as a result of this person's actions. They wish they could be a "fly on the wall" to see what is really going on, but ultimately feel that they will never get a clear answer from the person who hurt them.
Overall, "Downsized" is a song about the pain of being betrayed and deceived by someone close to you. The lyrics paint a picture of a toxic and one-sided relationship, in which the other person is constantly watching and judging the singer, and ultimately ends up replacing them with someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me dearest enemy what you make of me
Addressing the person who is both a friend and enemy, tell me how you perceive me
I didn't last, so fast you blast kinetic energy
I didn't stay for long, and you quickly used all your energy to push me away
I can't erase the memory
I cannot forget what has happened between us
If I put a foot wrong
If I make even a small mistake
You could laugh out loud, like you've been laughing to yourself all along
You would mock me openly, as if you have secretly been amused by my failures all along
Such lies, sweet hush of lullabies
You tell me false stories, pretending to soothe and comfort me
In a small town loose talk it kind of gets around
In a small community, rumors spread easily and can become exaggerated
I must reject all that I once believed
I must let go of everything I used to hold true
I've been deceived
Someone has misled me
Behind my back
Without my knowledge or awareness
I am quietly and surely under attack
Someone is secretly and consistently harming me
Downsized I guess I shouldn't be surprised
I have been reduced in size or importance, and I should have expected it
Two faced the time has come to be replaced
You have been dishonest and disloyal, and it's time for me to find a new friend
Betrayal, tiny minds
Those who betray others have small, petty minds
Something sinister's going on behind
There is something dark and underhanded happening that I am not aware of
You were my downfall
You were the cause of my failure
See me crawl, one and all
Everyone can see me humiliated and reduced to crawling
If I could only be a fly on the wall
If only I could secretly observe what's happening without being seen
Nothing is clear
Everything is ambiguous and uncertain
So sincere in my ear
You say things to me that seem genuine and heartfelt
You look so pretty when you sneer
You appear attractive when you mock and insult me
Behind the smile, sweet child
You're hiding your true intentions behind a friendly demeanor
You were grinding your teeth all the while
You were seething with anger and resentment the whole time
Betrayed, low grade
I have been disloyally abandoned and mistreated
Always delayed
You never follow through with your promises or commitments
Did you ever have the slightest intention to stay?
Did you ever plan on being loyal and committed to our friendship?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark Brydon, Roisin Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind