Roísín Murphy’s second solo album Overpowered was released in Ireland last week and it is one of the best Pop albums I’ve heard recently. Granted, I don’t really listen to chart, or pop music but this is the best kind of grown-up pop music. As with albums like Madonna’s Ray of Light, it is tightly produced with excellent instrumentation and strong song-writing from Murphy herself (Oh shit, I inadvertently praised Madonna 🙁 ) and is has electro coursing through its veins, perfect for dancefloors.
Murphy (originally from Wicklow, yes she’s Irish) has always been an interesting character and the Moloko album Things to Make and Do was stellar. In 2005, she made her debut Ruby Blue with avant-electro producer Matthew Herbert. With Overpowered, along with Murphy’s sultry gliding vocals we can hear strains of early The Knife and Donna Summer; rife with squelchy synths, disco balladry and assured delivery. Aided by Groove Armada’s Andy Cato amongst others and now signed to EMI, this album should make Roísín Murphy a star.
MP3
A couple of bonus cuts featuring Murphy; firstly “Indigo” from Moloko’s Things to Make & Do and then her excellent vocal for Handsome Boy Modeling School – So How’s your Girl? album from 1999.
Moloko – Indigo
Handsome Boy Modeling School – The Truth (feat. Roísín Murphy)
Video
2nd single – “Let Me Know”
Buy Overpowered @ Amazon
[ RoisinMurphy.com | Myspace ]
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
I complete agree. I’m not really a pop fan either but I was listening to ‘Overpowered’ coming to work this morning and I thought it was amazing. Plus ‘The Truth’ with HBMS is one of my favourite songs of all time.
Oxytocin is released during orgasm in both sexes; in the brain, oxytocin is involved in social recognition and bonding, and also involved in the formation of trust between people (internet definition).
the matthew herbert produced one is pretty fab too.
[quote comment=””]Oxytocin is released during orgasm in both sexes; in the brain, oxytocin is involved in social recognition and bonding, and also involved in the formation of trust between people (internet definition).[/quote]
What?
Kidney’s not a strange perv (on this evidence at least)– “Oxytocin’s flowing ever into my brain” is a lyric in Overpowered.
[quote comment=””]Kidney’s not a strange perv (on this evidence at least)– “Oxytocin’s flowing ever into my brain” is a lyric in Overpowered.[/quote]
I see
[quote comment=””][quote comment=””]Kidney’s not a strange perv (on this evidence at least)– “Oxytocin’s flowing ever into my brain” is a lyric in Overpowered.[/quote]
I’m glad Col cleared that up.
forget oxytocin, what about Madonna??!??! PHWOOOOAAAAR!
That photo of Roisin is SAVAGE!
Nice review – definitely loving Overpowered (the album). Have you listened to Pandora? It’s probably the best song released from these recent sessions, with the possible exception of Primitive…