The Sunshine Brothers have done a great job of warming the crowd up for Morcheeba. Unfortunately, I walk in to hear their last song. Judging from the happy faces in the crowd, I have missed a good performance.
When Morcheeba come onstage the crowd's anticipation has a physical presence like a layer of sweat on your skin. Could have something to do with the busted aircon, or roughly 500 people about to get something they really want.
Lead singer Manda is not what they want. People seem unaware Morcheeba have changed vocalists, despite original singer Skye Edwards leaving in 2003. Manda is the latest in a line of guest vocalists, and she has high expectations to meet. She is French. She is beautiful, talented, and says cute things like "Do you fancy to dance?" Her voice is lower than Skye Edward's. Which means some older songs, like "The Sea", lose that mix of bass with soft vocal high notes and sound uneventful in comparison. "Blindfold" is still one helluva sexy sound. It's enough to get me out of the cool quiet anteroom where I was having a nanna break and wedge myself firmly onto the dancefloor. The new songs suit Manda's voice perfectly. They've even got one sung in French (Au De La) which is minimal: Manda sings, accompanied by Ross Godfrey on guitar. I'm a sucker for French songs and this soft, sweet tune does not disappoint. Brothers Ross and (DJ) Paul Godfrey are the driving force behind Morcheeba, and I hope they hold on to Manda for a long while to come.
Here is the set list:
Moog Island
Otherwise
Trigger Hippy
Never an Easy Way
The Sea
Enjoy The Ride
Run Honey Run
Part of the Process
Gained the World
Sleep on it Tonight
Let me see
Blindfold
And the encore:
Au de la
Over and Over
Be Yourself
Rome
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