Moloko Catalogue CD - Import

Released three years after their final album, Statues, a Moloko best-of was long overdue. Fortunately, the straightforwardly named Catalogue delivers an impeccably edited collection of the duo's eclectic, ahead-of-the-curve music, gathering their biggest hits and key album tracks. Gorgeous romanticism, drop-dead style, and a funky sense of humor -- not to mention Roisin Murphy's charismatic vocals and Mark Brydon's forward-thinking production skills -- were the key ingredients in Moloko's freewheeling mix of dance, pop, and rock, all of which are on display throughout Catalogue and especially on its first five tracks, which are, not coincidentally, the duo's most popular singles. "Fun for Me" and "Pure Pleasure Seeker" are quintessential examples of Moloko's sexy, mischievous take on dance anthems; "The Time Is Now" and "Familiar Feeling" are searching-but-glamorous ballads; and of course, the pair's breakthrough single "Sing It Back" is as alluring as it is inventive. Unlike some best-ofs, which have to stretch to fill out an album's worth of tracks, Catalogue is a welcome reminder of how strong Moloko's overall body of work is. From Do You Like My Tight Sweater?'s "Day for Night" and "Where Is the What If the What Is in Why?" to the title track of Statues, each song on the collection holds up. Catalogue's only flaw -- if it can be called that -- is that it doesn't include many of the flights of fancy that made Moloko's albums so distinctive. The closest the collection gets to the duo's deeply kooky side is the cryptic but irresistible shuffle of "Indigo" and the playful pop of "The Flipside." This is a minor drawback though -- Catalogue is a great Moloko primer, and any newcomers charmed by the songs here have even more to discover on the full-length albums. ~ Heather Phares

Japanese edition of the band's 2006 anthology. The first album "Do You Like My Tight Sweater" was a benchmark trip-hop classic in 1995. "Fun For Me" was their first Top 40 single. "I Am Not A Doctor" appeared 3 years later with the original version of "Sing It Back" that would provide the springboard to the bands platinum selling 3rd album "Things To Make and Do". Includes the Ibiza anthem "Sing It Back" and its classic follow up "Time Is Now", firming Moloko's credentials at the cutting edge of dance music. 2003's "Statues" was the logical followup...a beautifully crafted album featuring "Familiar Feeling" and "Forever More". The Bonus Disc, recorded live at Brixton Academy in 2003 ended an 8 month worldwide tour. The band's legendary live performance is captured here. The 16 min. "Sing It Back", the sublime "Time Is Now" & "Forever More", which is a festival favorite. Almost 80 min, these performances debut on CD with this release!

Includes 1 bonus track and bonus DVD (NTSC/RC-2)