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Things to Make and Do

 
Album Review: Things To Make And Do
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Things To Make And Do

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  • Artist: Moloko
  • Rating: StarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: October 31, 2000
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Electronica

Review

Considering the esoteric materials that make up Moloko's unusual sound (trip-hop, funk, drum'n'bass, and a decidedly bizarro pop ethic), the group's music is surprisingly coherent and accessible. Things to Make and Do, the English duo's third full-length platter, is as strong as anything else they've done -- Roisin Murphy's singing style, which combines a wild variety of voices and textures, from impassively chilly to gorgeously lilting to gleefully offbeat, is instantly recognizable and endearing throughout, while Mark Brydon's broad compositional palette runs the gamut from irresistibly straightforward rock/dance grooves ("Indigo") to highly stylized electro/hip-hop programming (the Timbaland-esque "Absent Minded Friends"). Just enough live instrumentation is added to the songs to make them sound varied and human (check out the nylon-string guitar in the flamenco-flavored "The Time Is Now," which faintly recalls Basement Jaxx's "Rendez-Vu") and it adds a timeless quality to the music overall. The duo never falls into any of the clichés of any of the genres they exploit, managing instead to sound consistently fresh, adventurous, and enjoyable. Highlights include the buoyant "Somebody Somewhere" (featuring a rare vocal turn by Brydon) and the flawless, inscrutable "Indigo" (with its nonsensical chant: "Ramases! Colossus!"). Moloko is the best at what they do mainly because they are the only ones doing it. [Includes a dance remix of "Sing It Back" from I Am Not a Doctor.] ~ Andy Hinds, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Radio Moscow Eddie Stevens Moloko (:25)
Pure Pleasure Seeker Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (:25)
Absent Minded Friends Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (6:30)
Indigo Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (4:45)
Being Is Bewildering Mark Brydon, Róisín Murphy Moloko (5:36)
Remain the Same Mark Brydon, Róisín Murphy Moloko (4:07)
A Drop in the Ocean Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (3:40)
Dumb Inc. Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (1:58)
The Time Is Now Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (4:26)
Mother Mark Brydon, Róisín Murphy Moloko (5:18)
It's Your Problem Mark Brydon, Eddie Stevens, Róisín Murphy Moloko (5:42)
It's Nothing Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon Moloko (4:45)
Bingo Massacre Mark Brydon, Paul Slowley, Eddie Stevens, Róisín Murphy Moloko (1:17)
Somebody Somewhere Dave Cooke, Mark Brydon, Róisín Murphy Moloko (1:07)
Just You and Me Dancing Róisín Murphy, Mark Brydon, Eddie Stevens, Paul Slowley Moloko (3:25)
If You Have a Cross to Bear You May As Well Use It As a Crutch Róisín Murphy, Eddie Stevens, Mark Brydon, Paul Slowley Moloko (5:12)
Keep Stepping Róisín Murphy, Eddie Stevens, Mark Brydon Moloko (:21)
Sing It Back [Boris Musical Mix] Mark Brydon, Róisín Murphy Moloko (9:20)
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Wikipedia: Things to Make and Do
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Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Things to Make and Do
Studio album by Moloko
Released 31 October 2000
Recorded 1999-2000
Genre Alternative, Electronica, House
Length 67:54
Label Echo
Producer Moloko
Professional reviews
Moloko chronology
I Am Not a Doctor
(1998)		 Things to Make and Do
(2000)		 All Back to the Mine
(2001)

Things to Make and Do is the third album from the electronic/dance duo Moloko. It was issued in the UK in 2000 by Echo Records. Things to Make and Do was a departure sonically for Moloko, as the album featured songs relying less on electronics and more on live musicians. In addition to the change in musical styles, the album also featured lead singer Róisín Murphy using previously unheard technique in her vocals. At the time of its release, Murphy summed up her previous vocal style by saying "I was 19 when I made Tight Sweater, and I knew I was pretending, but if I tried not to, I’d still be pretending. Now, I know myself better.” [1]

After the release of Things To Make and Do, offers came in for Murphy to guest on others records, notably The Psychedelic Waltons, Boris D., and Handsome Boy Modelling School. The album held the Echo Label record as its fastest-selling platinum record in the UK, until this was beaten by Feeder's compilation The Singles six years later.

Singles and bonus tracks

The album's first single "The Time is Now" became Moloko's biggest hit, peaking at number two on the UK singles chart, prompting a number-three debut for Things to Make and Do in the UK.

Prior to the album's release, an unsolicited remix by Boris Dlugosch of the track "Sing It Back" (which had originally appeared in a sort of drum-and-bass incarnation on their previous album I Am Not a Doctor) became a club and mainstream hit. After storming Ibiza and Miami and popping up on scores of dance mix compilations, the Boris D. remix was tacked onto the end of Things to Make and Do as a bonus track.

Track listing

All songs written by Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon, except where noted.

  1. "Radio Moscow" (Eddie Stevens)
  2. "Pure Pleasure Seeker"
  3. "Absent Minded Friends"
  4. "Indigo"
  5. "Being Is Bewildering"
  6. "Remain the Same"
  7. "A Drop in the Ocean"
  8. "Dumb Inc."
  9. "The Time Is Now"
  10. "Mother"
  11. "It's Your Problem" (Brydon/Murphy/Stevens)
  12. "It's Nothing"
  13. "Bingo Massacre" (Brydon/Murphy/Stevens/Paul Slowley)
  14. "Somebody Somewhere" (Brydon/Murphy/Ashton Thomas/Dave Cooke)
  15. "Just You and Me Dancing" (Brydon/Murphy/Stevens/Paul Slowley)
  16. "If You Have a Cross to Bear You May as Well Use It as a Crutch" (Brydon/Murphy/Stevens/Paul Slowley)
  17. "Keep Stepping" (Brydon/Murphy/Stevens)
  18. "Sing It Back (Boris' Musical Mix)"

Singles

  • "The Time Is Now" (#2 UK)
  • "Pure Pleasure Seeker" (#21 UK)
  • "Indigo" (#51 UK)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

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