Fragments Of Freedom

Ever since 'Trigger Hippie' hit the sophisto pop spot, Morcheeba's one girl-two boy chilled contemporary blues have slinkily found their place in the muso-sun. Fragments Of Freedom is the first Morcheeba effort to hit the racks since the unexpected minor coffee table hit Big Calm, and there has been very little change to their slick, formulaic and ultimately dry, soulless dirges.

Whereas their debut album Who Can You Trust? was born out of a cynical and bleak view of life that complimented the high noon of trip-hop, Big Calm was a brighter, breezier Pina Colada of a record. The mood of Fragments Of Freedom floats in a gently contented cannabis haze in-between.

The leading single 'Rome Wasn't Built in A Day' is uplifting trip-pop at its most produced. You could say that 'Love Sweet Love' and 'Coming Down Gently' are highlights of sorts, but only in the sense that they make for some of the more pleasant, but ultimately forgettable, listening experiences around.