Posted by
Robert J. Ballantyne
The eccentric lead singer from the electronic duo Moloko starts off her major label career with a bang.
Overpowered follows Róisín Murphy’s odd-but-wonderful 2005 solo debut Ruby Blue, but is much more mainstream, yet still sophisticated and distinctly quirky. Murphy’s jazz-inflected vocals twist and turn unexpectedly, turning straightforward dance-pop tracks into playfully petulant and always-surprising affairs.
Unfortunately, despite the record’s quality, mass appeal may elude Murphy this time around. Single-worthy tracks like the peppy “Let Me Know,” the bouncy “You Know Me Better” and the Goldfrapp-inspired “Movie Star” are growers, not chart-stormers.
However, Overpowered is still a breath of fresh air for those who have given up on intelligent, melodic dance music. (EMI)