Statues | ||||
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Studio album by Moloko | ||||
Released | 3 March 2003 | |||
Recorded | 2001–02; Metropolis Studios (London, England) |
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Length | 57:05 | |||
Label | Echo, Sony | |||
Producer | Mark Brydon | |||
Moloko chronology | ||||
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Singles from Statues | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | |
BBC Music | (favourable) |
entertainment.ie | |
The Guardian | |
Resident Advisor | |
Uncut |
Statues is the fourth and final studio album by the Anglo-Irish electronic duo Moloko, released on 3 March 2003 by Echo Records.
After working with live musicians on their previous album, Things to Make and Do (2000), Moloko returned to electronic territory with this album, although the previous album's organic influences remains, as seen on "Familiar Feeling" and "Over & Over".
At the time of its release, the long-term romantic partnership between group members Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon had dissolved, setting the stage for Murphy's 2005 solo album, Ruby Blue. Statues is composed of material which describes the various emotional milestones in a romantic relationship, or rather as it comes apart. Moloko toured Europe extensively to promote the album and disbanded shortly thereafter.
"Come On" and "Statues"
"Come On" suggests the diminishing sex life of a tense pairing ("Do you remember the way we danced? I wish I could forget it"). The song "Statues" implies isolation in the absence of a distant or departed lover ("If all the statues in the world would turn to flesh [...] would they be kind enough to comfort me?"). With its evident theme of dissolving romance, Statues launched a debate among fans as to whether the songs were about the end of Brydon and Murphy's romantic relationship. Murphy later commented on this on her official forum: "[A]s regards my long and fruitfull [sic] relationship with Mark, your[sic] right its[sic] all there to read in the records we made so i[sic] don't need to tell you!"
"Familiar Feeling"
The opening track, "Familiar Feeling", is an upbeat remembrance stated as one lover trying to convince the other that the relationship was always meant to be, and it should not be in jeopardy because of jealousy and mistrust. The song is elaborately arranged with hints of both Latin and Irish folk music. Brydon's lyrical bass guitar playing can be heard trailing Murphy's lead vocal in the song's bridge.