After hitting the UK charts, most famously 12 years ago with their single ‘Part Of The Process’, Morcheeba seem like the kind of band who have discovered a music plan of action they like and have unswervingly pursued it ever since. On ‘Blood Like Lemonade’, their seventh album, this trend has two major consequences. One, that the album feels a little dated, with its reliance on dreamy, trip hop-influenced groove-pop interspersed with sampling and scratching courtesy of the album’s smattering of instrumental tracks. It’s not quite staid, but there’s nothing too adventurous here. But, consequence two, it means that Morcheeba have the polished sound of a band occupying a comfortable space on the pop sofa, a space that’s as snug as a glove. Check out ‘I Am The Spring’ and ‘Crimson’ for confident, enchanting vocal lines, or ‘Self Made Man’ for a catchy tune to get into your head and not let go. There’s little variety and few surprises on offer here, but what the album delivers in droves are solid, memorable melodies, perfect to peace out to and enjoy alongside a summer’s afternoon daydreaming.
