Track Listing

1. Sea
2. Shoulder Holster
3. Part of the Process
4. Blindfold
5. Let Me See
6. Bullet Proof
7. Over and Over
8. Friction
9. Diggin' a Watery Grave
10. Fear and Love
11. Big Calm
12. Music That We Hear [*]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7281 in Music
• Released on: 1998-03-17
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
Blame Tricky and Portishead. They started this whole Bristol sound thing, with sleepy techno beats overshadowed by the chirrupy vocals of some slumberland chanteuse. And--just when you think the approach has lost all its steam, all its relevance--along comes a new outfit to make the music a few degrees sleepier, the singing a tad more dreamy. And singers don't come any dreamier than Skye Edwards, whose lissome trill infuses every track on this sophomore outing with a tranquil ennui. You don't jump around to Morcheeba numbers like "The Sea." You sit back and let them creep up on you, as steady as the tides. --Tom Lanham

Spin
Always a hippie groove band at heart, Morcheeba have responded impressively to trip-hop's AOR-ization with Big Calm--possibly the most seamless mix of VH1 pop and DJ culture so far, and a joint that recalls the Mamas and the Papas as much as Portishead ... nearly every tune lingers in the memory, from the Delta-flavored sing-along "Part of the Process" to the Brit-reggae swagger of "Friction."

Entertainment Weekly
The gauzy production and languorous, soft-focus funk is once again in evidence, but this time the band mixes it up with deep-dish dub grooves, snatches of rap, sumptuous string arrangements, and the kind of canny songcraft that's frequently absent from other trip-hop- pop collectives.

Customer Reviews

Airy, ethereal and very stylish
Hi! I bought this CD on the strength of the reviews given for it. This piece impressed me very much. Basically, I only write reviews for CD's that floor me, and this one does that. The music is very strong, it's an exciting blend of the best sounds in music from guitars, strings, scratching, mixing, good bass, and more..all anchored by the sweet and versatile vocals of Skye Edwards(she will no doubt draw comparisons to Macy Gray, even though Skye is so much more skilled in this humble reviewers opinion.) "The Sea" is an amazing, atmospheric track with amazing vocals, violins, strings, and a cool guitar part. Great lyrics, great everything. Everything just meshes so beautifully to create a phenomenal song. "Blindfold" is just a beautiful track that is one of those songs that you thank god for. Again, great vocals, soaring strings, and an unforgettable chorus. My personal favourite track on this record is "Over and Over". This track demonstrates Skyes vocal prowess the best(in my eyes) It's a somber track which makes you actually feel. Skye is just so beautiful on this one. The strings, as always, are fitting. The acoustic guitar is beautifully sparse and hauntingly effective. The words....nothing short of astonishing: "I'd like to meet a mad man who makes it all seem sane". "Fear and Love" is another track that just bleeds honesty and creativity. The instrumental tracks are jazzy, trip-hoppy, and just plain listenable. This is a very listenable record. I can do anything to this record. It's good date music, I could listen to it cleaning my apartment, I could just curl up on a cold or rainy evening and pop this in, light a cigarette and everything is fine. I read the other reviews about that aspect and I totally agree. Buy this record. You won't be disappointed, that is if you like good music. Although I wouldn't exactly classify this as trip-hop, I would recommend this to trip hop lovers. This music is simply too good to classify with a label. It is a beautiful, stylistic album that sums up all I love about music by having elements of all of my favourite musical forms all in one gorgeous package. This, folks, is the reason I love music. Get this record and see what I saw. I plan on buying the other releases by Morcheeba(of course from Amazon!) on the strength of this recording. Get it Get it Get it! On one final note, if you like this record, also try out Esthero's "Breath from another"....VERY good stuff!

Smooth and calming, inspiring and exciting
Morcheeba is my favorite band, with good reason. Their first album, Who Can You Trust?, enchanted me with bass. Big Calm is very soothing, very smooth and cool. There is not a song that I don't like. My favorite songs on this album are The Sea, Blindfold, Friction and Big Calm. The Sea is very good to listen to in the dark. It's an excellent companion for a cup of tea. It's very soothing. There's something about Skye's voice... Blindfold kind of draws you in and doesn't let you go. It's almost bewitching. Friction shows that Morcheeba doesn't always have to be slow. It lets you groove. Big Calm is a very cool song because it starts out slow and grooving, then it gets loud and grooving, adding reggae/rap qualities. It always gets me moving. Add a guitar and you have the melange of musical styles that is characteristic of this group. I definitely reccommed this group to anyone who likes to groove. Big Calm is more for those who like a little slower, more psychedelic style. If you like a little more bass, go for Who Can You Trust?. At any rate, check Morcheeba out!

Super smooth! One of my favorite CD's
I started to listen to "The Big Calm" on a rainy night about a month ago. It has not left my CD player. It is an extremely intelligent piece of musical art. I highly recommend it. Go buy it... Now!