One record at a time: 260. Róisín Murphy - Overpowered

There are two sides to Róisín Murphy: there is an extremely funky side, and there is a slightly bonkers avant-garde side. Whilst her debut album "Ruby Blue" should be be filed under 'experimental', 2007's "Overpowered" was definitely made for the dance floor.

However, whichever side of Róisín an album represents, it is always a sincere endeavour. Róisín often comes across as irreverent and self effacing, but in reality she is heavily invested in creating music that becomes art. Whilst not everything she produces is to my taste, I appreciate her attempts to push the boundaries and never stay still.

For me this is one of Róisín's better albums. There's no doubt that her record company at the time pushed her to create more commercial dance music, but she retained enough control to make this more than anonymous manufactured pop. From the cover, the lyrics and even the people she chose to work with, this album is a unique product moulded by Murphy.

This copy of the record is a reissue from 2019 that duplicates the original pink and orange vinyl but also includes a bonus track that wasn't found on the first pressing. Visually this record is stunning, but more importantly it also sounds great - the quality of coloured vinyl has improved markedly since when I fist began buying records and it can no longer be instantly dismissed as being inferior.

I bought the CD of this album back in 2007 after I heard the title track. Not only does this song feature a great melody, but the minimalistic, electro-tinged production is absolutely fantastic. Andy Cato produces and co-writes the second track "You Know Me Better" which moves in a slightly more commercial direction, but is no less impressive. I'm not a big fan of "Checkin' On Me" as I find the backing vocal that follows the bassline intensely irritating. "Let Me Know" is a polished pop/dance crossover that provides contrast to the more grinding electroclash sound of "Movie Star" that follows. The fist disc finishes with "Primitive" which stumbles along and doesn't really catch fire.

The pink disc opens with "Footprints" which is probably the most disappointing and disjointed track on the whole album. "Dear Miami" and "Cry Baby"are both intriguing songs that are powered by rasping synths and Róisín's brilliant vocals. Unfortunately "Tell Everybody" repeats the annoying trick of using vocals to mimic the bassline, but the song is at least better than "Chekin' On Me". There's a change of pace with the slightly soul influenced "Scarlet Ribbons" and I love the vocal on "Body Language" as Róisín twists and embellishes the melodies. Richard X sprays his undoubted genius over "Parallel Lives" which was a mere 'bonus' track and omitted from the original vinyl. It might just be my twisted sensibilities that considers a seemingly discarded track as the best thing on the whole record, but I do love this one. Whilst there a few songs on this record I am not so fond of, the highs of "Parallel Lives", "Overpowered", "You Know Me Better" and "Let Me Know" mean I am forced to consider this album a success. 4/5