ALBUM REVIEW: Roisin Murphy
- Posted on December 5, 2007 2:02 PM
- 1 comment
Artist: Roisin Murphy
Album: Overpowered
Review by Natalie Aquilina
The thinking woman’s artist, Roisin Murphy has returned with her second solo album “Overpowered”. Her thoughts rush in as the title suggests, overpowering the listeners thoughts and feet in an instant. The theme she is representing in this album is clear from the first line of the driven beat that enters with, “When I think that I’m over you, I’m overpowered”. This is a genuine moment that Murphy depicts clearly and represents well all of our hearts.
It’s pure drunk emotion. The title track “Overpowered”, talks about the facts of love. One of its core messages, “As science struggles on to try to explain”…in essence the feeling that is love, is well placed in this album of emotion. It is a note I would like to come in on. It annoys all of us I think, the insistence of the science crowd to “explain” why we become attached to certain people, why we become consumed by another person. Tis the science of love people, accept it! And Roisin is our woman in the love enveloped trenches flying the flag for freedom of her own and our expression.
A heavier beat greets us on the second track “You know me better”, which is punchier and to the point. Murphy’s frustrations are clear - at not getting what she wants, at losing some of her power to the person who “knows her the best”. Her frustrations are coming from a place of want, “This thing is getting stronger and stronger, We need to take it further”.
Now, lets drop the beat shall we, our hips too and dance the rhythm. Murphy is back in the control seat with “Checkin’ on me”, where she is telling the subject matter exactly what she thinks of him. She has shaken off some of the stronger overcoming emotions of the first two songs. “Stealing my liberty”, “What do you think you’re gonna find?” – Murphy is direct, insistent and bold. You can almost feel the exotic fabric Murphy is likely to be wearing, in her strong and explicit way.
It’s the perfect emotive album, marking down the stages of emotion that we all go through when love comes our way - overwhelmed, finding inner strength, directing inner yearning and eventually holding onto inner direction. Murphy has, as always, done well in her innovation as well as her truth. It is only after the wallowing of love and its overwhelming emotion that you can truly accept the desire and brilliance of it and direct your life the way it should be, by speaking the truth with personal strength.
“Let me know when your lonely baby”, stamp it out, lovin’ it! The track “Let me know”, loves every second of its 5 minutes. Now we’re at the fun part, drink in hand, today is the first day of the rest of my life. How lusciously indulgent.
Then comes reflection in “Primitive”. There are some things we cannot control completely so give in. Unlock the cage and embrace. This is one of my favourites; it’s basic note play intertwining with the naturalistic subject matter. There is a base coat, the building blocks on which our personalities are built that are animalistic, that are the same as everyone else. There’s nothing to be afraid of, unlock the cage and be free.
Murphy has a very well thought out, embracing and new approach to music that renews the listeners’ love for it. In my mind, this album is the perfect stream of consciousness, feel very free to ebb and flow with it.
Relateed links:
Roisin Murphy tickets on Seatwave
Official Roisin Murphy site
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Comments (1)
Gennaro
When I think of my soul speaking to me, her voice is that of Rosin Murphy. This album is the ultimate dip into her(my) InLandEmpire...absolutely great!
Posted on December 7, 2007 2:21 PM
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