Review by Josh Felty
Rating: ****
I've neglected to listen to any of Morcheeba's music up until getting a sampling of Blood Like Lemonade. My friends and I used to see the band's odd sort of name in the Columbia House listings (remember Columbia House?) and think, "Either they're really heavy or really stoned." The word 'cheeba' is slang for cannabis, after all. Perhaps it was a case of us being on 'morcheeba'.
At any rate, Blood Like Lemonade is a commendable release: a smooth concoction laced with plenty of hooks. You also gotta love the title of the album, itself a great track. "Mandala" is a very interesting highlight, one that consists of bluesy harmonica and slide guitar--perhaps some sort of Southern-fried Buddhist ritual? After some research into this group, I found they are both British and fond of inserting blues into their already poppy electronic sound. "I Am the Spring" is a beautiful acoustic song, demonstrative of Skye Edwards' exquisite female vocal. "Easier Said Than Done" and "Beat of the Drum" showcase the band's tight trip-hop/Euro-pop sonic landscape, making for an interesting listen for that genre's detractors.
Now to listen to some Morcheeba (see what I did there?) and get schooled.