preview
POP
Morcheeba Glasgow: Barrowland, Sat 30 Sep.
How did you discover Morcheeba? Perhaps it’s because of the funny name (’M-O-R'; middle of the road, 'cheeba‘; slang for dope) or because the music doesn't fit cleanly into a pigeonhole, but whatever the reason, there's no escaping it's a mysterious path the brothers Godfrey and singer Skye have walked to become a fixture in most household's record collections. Word-of—mouth might seem like a cliche, but it’s been that more than any marketing ploy which has led to scores of people discovering ’this great new band’. A new band who aren't really that new at all, having hit the scene back in 1995 with their 12in ‘Trigger Hippie'. Then came their acclaimed first album, Who Can You Trust, which took them on tour to the US, and saw collaborations with David Byrne. Big Calm, their million-plus seller mixed blues with hip hop to create one of the all time great chill out albums.
Alas, the rock ’n' roll high life left Skye and the boys from Kent rather the worse for wear, as guitarist Ross explains: ’The initial excitement of getting somewhere had kept us on this mad ride for about four years and when you wake up from that you realise you've got a real bad hangover and you haven't been paid.’ Paul seconds the motion: ’It was probably like watching twenty movies in fast forward.’ Burnt out, the band decided to jump ship. ’We all just really needed to step off the rollercoaster, and then when it came to recording another LP we all totally got our enthusiasm back,’ says Paul.
Enthusiasm is what you’ll find in abundance on the new album Fragments of Freedom. Anyone expecting another Big Calm is in for a shock, as Morcheeba have evolved into a different creature altogether. It’s involved
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SKA
Bombskare
Edinburgh: The Venue from Sun 24 Sep, then monthly.
Anyone ‘.'~.'ho great up in the ate /()s and eariy 80s will have fond lTlOTT‘O'K‘S of ska liladness performing One Step Beyond on Top Of The Pops or The Specra s Il‘. that ctaustropltohrc Video for 'Cnhost
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Dust off your pork pie hat, sta press trousers and braces and start practising that running on the spot dancing thingymajig to Edinburgh's very own expert ska exponents
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Morcheeba get free again
taking a step back to see what inspired them in the first place.
’The kind of stuff we were into before Morcheeba started — disco, pop, old-skool rap — that’s the kind of music we wanted to make,’ says Ross. Having the luxury of their own studio in Clapham meant they were able to spend a year getting the mix just right. Prepare yourself for a big dose of Stevie Wonder in ’Love Is Rare', a healthy serving of funk in ’Love Sweet Love' and a touch of 805 Michael Jackson peppered throughout. The band has already had massive success with the first single ‘Rome Wasn't Built In A Day', a song which sounds like the kind of celebratory soul classic Aretha Franklin herself wouldn't be out of place on.
'We’ve always loved music that just makes you enjoy yourself,’ says Paul, ‘and that’s what this album is all about.’ But before we go getting too comfortable with the happy new version of Morcheeba, what about the next album? ’We’ve already written about half of it,’ says Paul, ’lt's going to be a lot darker.’ (Louisa Pearson)
l-ragrnents of Freedom rs out now, the new Yourse/f’ rs released on 9 Oct
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‘\."./ith that on the go and the ciut) ki(lKl.".(] off as \‘.("ll it's all coming together nacelyfi says Knox Keep steeizng ourselves for rejection, but for some reason what we do works lhat'li he because they're good fun then rDoug Johnstone»
T Bombskare are also supporting The Se/ec tel, Sun i2 Nov and Bad r‘xlanne/ s, Tue 1.? Dec, lion/cl Room, Edinburgh
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All the knocking, rocking and shocking from the wonderful world of music
GRANDADDY HAVE CANCELLED their show at the Garage on 23 Oct to go on tour with Elliot Smith in the US. The show has not yet been rescheduled and refunds will be available from point of purchase. Talking of Elliott Smith, he plays at the Liquid Room on Tuesday 3 October.
CANONGATE BOOKS CONTINUE to produce quality music reading win the p'..'h:icatior\. of A Change Is Gonna Come by Craig Werner, a hist0ry of ’n‘usrc, race and the soul of America’ which chronicles 40 years of black .' rusrc November wsli see the launch 09' the lthlO 'rnprrnt a huge ret'ere'xe torr‘e entitled The r‘./lc)yo Cor'lec tron l)Lrl)l‘SliG(l along \‘.:ti‘; nooks or: Art Pepper, Ray Cl'iavves, SH" Ra and The Beatles’ Apnre :ahe
BUDDING POP HEROES who fancy their chances on the stage of Glasgow University’s QMU can try their luck by submitting a demo tape or CD to David Laing. Any genre of music will be considered, so send your tunes to QMU, 11 University Gardens, Glasgow, G12.
ALL OF YOU ‘\.'./".0 inougixt ti‘e tesiz';af season \.-.as oxer, th m agar.“ Undemorio day {her ire-a: sr‘ox'. o‘ the year as teaclunew at The \.‘.’(’(‘K("l‘(l("", a three-day dance party y'ch "lac it ~.". We sum: of A: Tc)!t‘c)"‘()'.'-.s Partes, :_-,rt:rch \.'-.'as programmed in l‘\.lc)g‘.'.ae ea." :er irks yea." Ran'n'ig 17 l9 Nonve't‘toer ~r‘. P'estatyr‘, Nort" “fiaies, .t t)" t‘.(lS together some of tne coavtt'y's nest Dirnc; and i:‘.(‘ talent chadmg Doves,
T "no l.laas, (.a": C ra g and Josn \‘1 UK T'( kets are £99 and are azatiah'e o" 01159129123
FOR ALL THE latest announced live shows, see the gig guide starting on page 10 for a run down of the best gigs this coming season.
Music, Race and the Soul of America
CRAIG WERNER
A Change Is Gonna Come by Craig Werner
" Sezt 1) \l’c'. THELIST41