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.
Dumb Inc.
Moloko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dumb dumb. so sweet so young.
You're not supposed to swallow your bubble gum.
Chicken foot, dim suts
Knuckle head. knuckle head
Look what you've done
Take a look around.
You and me are free to be the dumbest in town.
Young gun. excuse the pun.
The pandemonium has just begun
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Got a head full of cotton wool
But life for me. is never dull
To fulfi you have to fill full
I turned around and bought a round and poured another one
Proud fool you're just too cool for school
Full moon come soon
And when the moon is not quite round
Where can the missing bit be found
Be proud to be profound.
Dumb dumb
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Devoid
We are malcontent
We're not entirely sure of our intent
Brain washed we suffer memory loss
Ho hum play dumb come little boy lost.
Time bomb is ticking
Quickening, quickening quickening, quickening, quickening..
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down.
Dumb dumb.
We're dumbing it down...
The lyrics to Moloko's song 'Dumb Inc' appear to express a sentiment of frustration with our tendency as a society to 'dumb down' and simplify everything. The chorus repeats the phrase 'dumb dumb, we're dumbing it down', essentially hammering home this theme. The opening lines of the song introduce us to the idea of what it means to be 'dumb', with the lyrics 'so sweet, so young, you're not supposed to swallow your bubble gum'. This could perhaps be interpreted as a metaphor for how we are encouraged to remain childlike and naive when it comes to complex ideas and concepts.
The rest of the song goes on to illustrate the point further, with lines like 'take a look around, you and me are free to be the dumbest in town', suggesting that we are becoming complacent and accepting of a lower standard of knowledge and intelligence. The repeated use of the phrase 'dumbing it down' could also be seen as a criticism of popular culture and how it often relies on easy-to-digest content.
Overall, it seems like 'Dumb Inc' is a commentary on the state of our society and how we are becoming less intellectually curious and less willing to engage with challenging ideas.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah... yeah oh yeah
Excitement and anticipation for what is to come.
Dumb dumb. so sweet so young.
Referring to being naive, inexperienced, and not knowing any better.
You're not supposed to swallow your bubble gum.
A simple piece of advice, warning against bad choices and consequences attached to them.
Chicken foot, dim suts
A reference to a popular Chinese dish; a nod to diversity and globalization.
Knuckle head. knuckle head
Calling someone a fool or a foolish decision they've made.
Look what you've done
A statement of disappointment and frustration towards someone who has made poor decisions.
Dumb dumbing it down
Purposefully choosing to not think deeply and instead, making choices based on simplicity and ease.
Take a look around.
Encouraging someone to observe and learn from their surroundings.
You and me are free to be the dumbest in town.
Acknowledging the freedom to make choices, even if they may not be the smartest or wisest ones.
Young gun. excuse the pun.
A reference to someone young and inexperienced; self-aware of a potential pun in the phrase.
The pandemonium has just begun
Emphasizing the chaos and confusion that is just beginning and may continue to worsen.
Dumb dumb.
Repeating the phrase to further express the idea of simplicity and lack of thinking deeply.
We're dumbing it down.
Acknowledging the choice to not challenge oneself and to keep things simple.
Got a head full of cotton wool
Referring to feeling hazy or confused in one's thinking.
But life for me. is never dull
Despite feeling confused or uncertain at times, life remains interesting and exciting.
To fulfi you have to fill full
In order to achieve fulfillment, one must be content and feel satisfied.
I turned around and bought a round and poured another one
Buying drinks for friends; enjoying time spent together with others.
Proud fool you're just too cool for school
Acknowledging someone's confidence, but also pointing out one's foolishness in not taking things seriously enough.
Full moon come soon
Looking forward to the next full moon; eager for change or a new start.
And when the moon is not quite round
Referring to the cyclical nature of life and how it can never be completely perfect or complete.
Where can the missing bit be found
A reflective question, searching for ways to find fulfillment or meaning in life.
Be proud to be profound.
Encouraging deep thinking and reflection to find true meaning and fulfillment.
Devoid
Lacking something; feeling empty or hollow.
We are malcontent
Feeling dissatisfied or uncomfortable with the current state of things.
We're not entirely sure of our intent
Feeling uncertain or unclear about one's goals or motives.
Brain washed we suffer memory loss
Feeling like one has been influenced or manipulated into forgetting important details or information.
Ho hum play dumb come little boy lost.
Encouraging someone to play it safe and not to reveal too much intelligence or critical thinking.
Time bomb is ticking
An ominous reference to something bad or dangerous that may happen soon.
Quickening, quickening quickening, quickening, quickening..
Emphasizing the urgency and speed at which something dangerous or concerning is approaching.
Dumb dumb.
Repeating the phrase to further express the idea of simplicity and lack of thinking deeply.
We're dumbing it down.
Acknowledging the choice to not challenge oneself and to keep things simple.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark Brydon, Roisin Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind