Recent difficulties about Murphy’s controversial remarks on trans issues and puberty blockers aside, the Irish singer-songwriter’s collaboration with German producer DJ Koze (AKA Stefan Kozalla) is a mesmerically inventive, intimate, candid exploration of funk, pop, disco and house, skilfully pushed through an wonderfully warped aural lens of vocal effects and sounds. Overall, this sixth album shifts from slow funk to a dance club atmosphere, but there are many shades along the way, from self-loathing to dark humour, soulful, unabashed declarations of love adoration, self-liberation and ecstatic joy, and it’s a far more daring and inventive LP than her last, 2020’s Róisín Machine. Perhaps the experience is summed up by the love song The Universe, decorated with smooth guitar and whimsical commentary but beautifully sung vocals, related to which, Murphy says: “The universe at large is playful and terrifying. There is no discernible sense to it. The story that is always being told is on multiple levels, levels we don't see or understand. The experience of being alive is to be continually reminded of how utterly unaware we are of what is really going on all around us. ”
“The universe is singing our song. What could possibly go wrong?”
Other standouts include Fader, CooCool, Can’t Replicate, What Not To Do, Hurtz So Bad, This House, You Knew, and Eureka. Eccentrically glamorous of course, charismatic and at times beautifully bizarre, it’s also joyfully celebratory, catchy and uplifting, and rewards even more on subsequent listens. Out on Ninja Tune.
New to comment? It is quick and easy. You just need to login to Disqus once. All is explained in About/FAQs ...
Feel free to recommend more new songs and albums and comment below. You can also use the contact page, or find more on social media: Song Bar Twitter, Song Bar Facebook. Song Bar YouTube, and Song Bar Instagram. Please subscribe, follow and share.
Song Bar is non-profit and is simply about sharing great music. We don’t do clickbait or advertisements. Please make any donation to help keep the Bar running: