| Product: |
Do You Like My Tight Sweater ? - Moloko |
| Date: |
21/09/02 (504 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: some geniunely bizarre and quirky tracks, 'Fun For Me' still sounds fresh today
Disadvantages: a few weaker tracks towards the end of the album
Moloko are perhaps best remembered for the Ibiza anthems 'Sing It Back' and 'The Time Is Now', both of which were huge chart hits in 1999 / 2000. However, Roisin Murphy and Mark Brydon's debut album is altogether a more different sound and style. Influenced by a whole range of eclectic sources, its title is derived from the chat-up line that Murphy used on Brydon on their first meeting at a house party. The band themselves are named after a drink that was served at the milk bar in the cultiest of cult films, 'A Clockwork Orange'. The album seems to be full of in-jokes and spontaneous thought, and is almost an obscure comedy script as much as at is a musical masterpiece...
After being released in 1996, 'Do You Like My Tight Sweater' sold over a quarter of a million copies worldwide, but seems to have been ignored some what in the light of their more recent successes... However, it remains the best and most dynamic of their three studio albums.
The first track, 'Fun For Me' is a fabulous slice of quirky electronica, full of squelches and fantasy lyrics, including classic lines such as 'I had a dream the boogeyman went down on Mr Spock' and 'I dreamt that I was very tall - I was bigger than King Kong'. Her slightly deranged narrative fits absolutely perfectly on what is essentially a nonsense song, but a damn good tune. You may know this one after it was pimped out to an advertising company - it's the one that features the line 'fe fi fum, fun for me!' Genius, and the best thing that Moloko have committed to vinyl...
Another top track, superior to their two big hits, is the sublime 'Day For Night', which straddles the middle ground between chill-out dance music and pop. Roisin's distinctive spiky vocals are layered over an edgy but melodic tune, and the result is something understated, but very good indeed...
'I Can't Help Myself'
seems to have been influenced by Deee-Lite with its structure. Roisin speaks rather than sings on this claustrophobic and paranoid tracks. Once again underproduced, it epitomises Moloko's obscure and original style.
Despite starting off as if we're listening to animals in an abattoir about to meet their maker, 'Lotus Eaters' is another wonderful slice of melodic electronica. Roisin sings a little bit less on this, although it does feature what sounds like a cow moo-ing for most of the track, which is quirky, if perhaps a little grating upon repeated listening.
After the fabulous titled but forgettable interlude 'On My Horsey', we are into Moloko's first single release in 'Dominoid'. With a vocal effect that makes her sound a little like Portishead's Beth Gibbons, the track has some lush squelchy keyboards. However, it seems like a bit of an odd choice for a single, as it doesn't particularly stand out amongst some of the other things on '...Tight Sweater'.
'Party Weirdo' is another with a disturbed opening, as if the Smash Martians had gatecrashed a Bar Mitsvah bash. Actually, hold that thought and think of them having a little gathering at the snack table to the shock and bemusement of partygoers, and you've pretty much summed up the spirit of the song. Spooky, but very listenable, if a trifle long at 7 minutes.
'Ho Hum' sees a return to the chill-out stylings that people are more people associate Moloko with. Sounding a little more downbeat and less novelty than many of the other tracks on this album, Roisin's hmm-hmming in the background sets off a nice electro backing.
We move into slightly space-age sounding territory (yep, those Smash Martians are back again) with 'Butterfly 747', which sounds ever so slightly as though it was recorded by mid 90's dance act Baby D. A little bland amongst the company on the album, it n
eeds a few weird lyrics from Murphy to spice things up I think...
Another odd interlude follows with Roisin chanting ' dirty monkey, cheeky monkey, dirty monkey, he was a cheeky monkey'. More animal bashing is up next with 'Killa Bunnies', which is far too disturbing to describe here. Imagine a claustrophobic PJ Harvey down a mineshaft fighting with a gigantic Duracell bunny and you've just about got the picture...
They slip back into a more reflective and thoughtful mode with 'Boo', although this lacks the instant hook of some of the earlier songs. The excellently named 'Where Is The What If The What Is In Why' is up next, although again, it seems to be missing an ingredient or two (Smash perhaps?).
'Who Shot The Go Go Dancer' ends the album in a very bizarre manner. Roisin speaks a few lines before a few minutes of silence before some odd chanting that will scare you silly if you're not expecting it. A somewhat disappointing end to what is a splendid album.
For me, this album was a complete impulse buy on the basis that I liked 'Fun For Me'. Although I wasn't familiar with any of the other tracks on 'Do You Like My Tight Sweater' before I bought it, there are many gems on it.
I wouldn't class myself as a huge Moloko fan (I thought they're recent material was played to death, and have to turn over every time I hear the first beats of the Dlugosch mix of 'Sing It Back), I was really impressed with it. In fact it even inspired me to buy their follow-up 'I Am Not a Doctor', although that isn't half as good...
Although I wouldn't recommend it for everyone (Roisin does have a very distinct voice that isn't to everyone's taste), it does serve as a fabulous introduction to a band who's best work isn't perhaps known as well as it ought to be.
However, whether I'd recommend the sleevnote'
;s instruction of smelling the CD before you play it for a fuller, sensual experience is another matter...
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