Roisin Murphy: 'Overpowered'

Moloko’s ex-resident ladette finally flexes her disco feathers and flies for the charts with a polished pop album that fits just as well on the dance floor as it does as a dinner party soundtrack du jour. Though best-known back in the day for their two big Ibiza friendly tunes (‘Sing it Back’ and ‘The Time is Now’), Moloko were always tricky buggers, just as likely to go all jazz funk as they were to knock out upfront anthems.

Since their split, Roisin Murphy has got the strangeness off her chest (with the eccentric ‘Ruby Blue’ album) and seems to be concentrating on winning back her original clubbing audience, now much older and wiser. From the sophisto-strings ‘n glitter of ‘Let Me Know’ to the sleazy swagger of ‘Overpowered’, this is a mature album which reigns in the funk all the better to highlight Roisin’s ice maiden vocals and clever lyrics. Whether this is a renaissance or last hurrah depends on the record-buyers who’re too young to remember her first time round, but, however it fares, it’s still a clever dance album that isn’t afraid to get wasted once in a while.

Released 15th October 2007 by EMI.

Written by Matt Chittock.