Morcheeba at the Hospital Club

Morcheeba release their eighth studio album Head Up High this week, and ahead of two tour dates in Glasgow and London next month they are previewing some new material from the album at the Hospital Club tonight.

The band open with The Sea, which is every bit as beautiful as the first time you would have heard it on Big Calm (1998). The instant crowd-pleaser immediately gets the audience on their feet and dancing along to every note. Next Morcheeba move on to their new material from Head Up High. Make Believer is cool, psychedelic guitars with influences ranging from rock to reggae; Gimme Your Love is the first single from the new album, and their reasons for choosing it are clear – futuristic electronic throbs, scratching and epic guitar solos are all held together by lead singer Skye’s flawless vocals.

It’s a marked change in sound and tempo from their trip-hop roots in the 90s and one that they own throughout the set. Other highlights include the haunting I’ll Fall Apart and the infectious beat of Release Me Now. It’s exciting when the band play 90s sub-culture anthem Trigger Hippie from first album Who Can You Trust? (1996), after some of the new material, as it sounds just as fresh, showcasing how influential and innovative the band have really been since they formed 18 years ago.

The set is short and enjoyable, but many guest appearances on the studio album leave some gaps in the new material performed live. The album includes three songs featuring vocals from White Denim frontman James Petralli, a song with a verse from the unmistakable voice of Jurassic 5’s Chali 2na, and appearances from Nature Boy, Ana Tijoux and Rizzle Kicks. While these voices shine on the album, it will be interesting to see if Morcheeba will continue to command the stage live without them.

Katy Thomas
Photos: Paulina Bobrowska

For further information and future events visit Morcheeba’s website here.

Watch the video for Gimme Your Love here: