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]
Face Of Danger
Morcheeba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I made it through, but you don't know how
When it's a matter of life or death
I'll drag it out so don't hold your breath
Put me in danger and I feel no fear
Take something from me and I'll shed no tears
I'm self contained and I want what I need
Oh, laughing in the face of danger
Oh, in this passion of a stranger
Oh, laughing in the face of danger
Oh, in this passion of a stranger
Yeah, I don't need your love
Yeah, I'm gonna spill your blood
Sliding down on a slippery slope
Inside see that there are no ropes
I have to confess that I feel no shame
I'm gonna have fun playing out this game
It's true that the dead men tell no tales
I'll be the judge when you tip the scales
Where's the intelligence that comes with age
I don't need religion or a self-help sage
Oh, laughing in the face of danger
Oh, in this passion of a stranger
Oh, laughing in the face of danger
Oh, in this passion of a stranger
Yeah, I don't need your love
Yeah, I'm gonna spill your blood
My path is to race against the anger
In the past when I've laughed in the face of danger
I've been asked to embrace a stranger
As I leave into the grass of my sexed-up neighbors
A rash as I race from nations
As I walk a straight path in a wasted nation
See me defend in at worst of places
In an effort to suppress and to test my patience, but
I make immovable objects
Hoping to get them moving in an immovable context
They confess like a thief in the night
For a foundation when they're deep as behind the dog cat fights
You're always trying to sabotage
Dressed in camouflage
Double down the laws trying to burn like a camouflage
Fill a prescription like a doctor
No one led by this fool that thinks we shall prosper
Oh, laughing in the face of danger
Oh, in this passion of a stranger
Oh, laughing in the face of danger
Oh, in this passion of a stranger
Yeah, I don't need your love
Yeah, I'm gonna spill your blood
The song "Face of Danger" by Morcheeba is about a person who is fearless and self-contained, speaking to a lover or an opponent who puts them in danger. The lyrics "By the skin of my teeth, by the sweat of my brow" imply that the writer has faced difficulties and barely made it through. However, they seem to thrive on danger, as shown in the lines "Put me in danger and I feel no fear" and "I'm gonna have fun playing out this game."
The writer seems to have a dark side as they sing about shedding no tears when something is taken from them and not needing love ("Yeah, I don't need your love"). The repeated lyrics "laughing in the face of danger" suggest that the writer might be sarcastic about their fearlessness, as the phrase is often used ironically. The chorus ends with "Yeah, I'm gonna spill your blood", which could be interpreted as a threat or a challenge to someone who has underestimated the writer's strength.
Overall, the song seems to be a declaration of strength and autonomy. The writer is unafraid of danger and won't be controlled by anyone, but they also acknowledge their own mortality with the line "When it's a matter of life or death / I'll drag it out so don't hold your breath." The metaphor of a "slippery slope" also suggests that the writer knows they are at risk of losing control, but revels in the adrenaline of the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
By the skin of my teeth, by the sweat of my brow
I barely made it through a struggle and did a lot of hard work
I made it through, but you don't know how
I succeeded in something, but you don't know the extent of my efforts
When it's a matter of life or death
In a situation where life is at risk
I'll drag it out so don't hold your breath
I will take my time to ensure the best outcome, so don't expect quick results
Put me in danger and I feel no fear
I am brave and unafraid in dangerous situations
Take something from me and I'll shed no tears
I am emotionally strong and will not be affected by losses
I'm self-contained and I want what I need
I am independent and only seek what is necessary
You have to work hard just to see me bleed
It's difficult to bring me down or cause me harm
Sliding down on a slippery slope
In a dangerous situation that is becoming more difficult to control
Inside see that there are no ropes
I am not restrained or controlled in this situation
I have to confess that I feel no shame
I am not embarrassed or apologetic about my actions or choices
I'm gonna have fun playing out this game
I will enjoy the challenge of this situation
It's true that the dead men tell no tales
Dead people cannot reveal secrets or events
I'll be the judge when you tip the scales
I will determine the outcome and who is successful
Where's the intelligence that comes with age
Why aren't older people wiser and more thoughtful?
I don't need religion or a self-help sage
I am not interested in spiritual or personal guidance
My path is to race against the anger
My goal is to overcome or avoid conflict
In the past when I've laughed in the face of danger
I have mocked or disregarded danger before
I've been asked to embrace a stranger
I have been told to accept or trust someone unknown to me
As I leave into the grass of my sexed-up neighbors
As I move towards my lustful neighbors
A rash as I race from nations
I act recklessly as I move away from people or countries
As I walk a straight path in a wasted nation
I move forward with purpose in a corrupt or ruined society
See me defend in at worst of places
Watch me protect myself in terrible circumstances
In an effort to suppress and to test my patience, but
Someone is intentionally trying to frustrate or challenge me
I make immovable objects
I create things that are stubborn or unchanging
Hoping to get them moving in an immovable context
I try to stimulate change in unresponsive circumstances
They confess like a thief in the night
They reveal the truth suddenly, unexpectedly
For a foundation when they're deep as behind the dog cat fights
For a basis when they are deeper than petty conflicts
You're always trying to sabotage
You are constantly attempting to disrupt or harm me
Dressed in camouflage
You hide your intentions or motives
Double down the laws trying to burn like a camouflage
You try to increase authority or control until it becomes hidden like camouflage
Fill a prescription like a doctor
Provide a solution or resolution as if it were medicine
No one led by this fool that thinks we shall prosper
No one should follow this misguided person who believes we will succeed
Yeah, I don't need your love
I do not require your affection or devotion
Yeah, I'm gonna spill your blood
I will cause you harm or violence
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHARLES L. STEWART, PAUL DAVID GODFREY, ROSS GODFREY, SKYE EDWARDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind