Track Review ⊙ Daily Ops Home
Róisín Murphy :: "Let Me Know"From Overpowered (EMI; 2007)
Your disco needs you. Rock-friendly dance is subterfuge. Simian Mobile Disco, Justice, and Digitalism are your enemies. Squalling feedback, white noise, and dirty beats are easy. They are tempting to you, the indie-rock fan. They are the low hanging fruit -- ripe, juicy distractions to keep you from your true goal. You are strong. You are not a failure. Set your make-up to stun; you will dance.
Squadron leader Róisín Murphy has studied the competition: Björk is a strong fighter with a proven track record. But she's a maverick -- a loose cannon. Who knows what avenue she'll take us down? Madonna is just power-mad and, frankly, she's too old for this game. We need a safe pair of hands who has earned her stripes. General Murphy fought in the heady drum'n'bass/trip-hop wars of the mid-nineties with an elite fighting team, Moloko. There were many casualties, sure, but Murphy, with help from Technical Engineer Boris D, produced a lethal weapon -- "Sing It Back." No one saw it coming but.it was so obvious. A shameless disco gem. Resistance was futile.
The brave among you followed her solitary assault on the dance-floors with 2005's Ruby Blue. Some have been inspired to join following May's "Overpowered." Don't worry; we need as many troops as possible. Our plan is for full-blown attack when the second album is released on October 16th. You will get a full briefing closer to D-Day. Today is all about Operation "Let Me Know."
The idea is simple. We've built a track that hints at the familiar. This is part "Love Hangover," part D-Train's "Keep On." Murphy's already laid down some killer vocals and devised lyrics designed to seduce and beguile: "I'd risk my reputation just to get a room / You always have a reservation / so come lie down beside me." She's using her trademark lethal purr and we've planted a charming "dancing like nobody's watching" themed video on YouTube.
Your mission:
1. Frug like giddy teenagers to the metronomic beeps and blips.
2. Shimmy to skipping hi-hats from 1989.
3. Yearn for a pair of rollerskates once the piano loop kicks in (please use caution -- only standard disco-issue rollerskates will suffice. Inline skates will only result in a soldier down).
4. Swoon at keening vocals that squeeze a jazzy soulful melody from the tightest of house grooves.
5. Recall the glory days of dance-pop and hanker after Kym Syms, Alison Limerick, and CeCe Peniston.
6. Love this song.
7. Play this song again.
8. Love this song.
9, Play this song again.
10. Love this song.
11. Play this song again.
Hold tight, brave soldier. Our time is nigh.
Danny Roca :: 1 October 2007 |
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