Morcheeba have been going in their various guises for a staggering 18 years now, but for their line-up over the last three to four years they have had Skye Edwards back in place, which is always a good sign. Yet while there are some good moments on ‘Head Up High’, there are some questionable ones too. You could argue that Morcheeba’s specific blend of funk and atmospheric hip hop is now wildly outdated, but it still works when it’s done well, as it is in the sultry ‘Gimme Your Love’ and ‘Release Me Now’. Where it doesn’t work so well is on ‘Face Of Danger’, whose lyrics are much more edgy than the comfortable studio dressing they receive, and the rap – even from such a respected artist as Charli 2Na – cannot save a song that ends up being as dangerous as wearing odd socks! Even that does not prepare for ‘To Be’, where the Rizzle Kicks are a pleasingly adventurous collaboration but add a rap about marinating steak that just sounds completely out of place. A very mixed back, then, an awkward mix of trying to keep what’s good about the band whilst moving forward.
3 out of 5
Reviewed By Ben Hogwood
