This EP would have deserved a straight-up 10 out of 10 if not for the amateur, unnecessary remixes appended to the end of the release. The original mix of “Moses” is a brilliant, dreamy, trip-hop-infused ensemble that should have been released as a one-trick pony single and not a prelude to an album-killing duo of covers. If you think you’ve never heard of Elizabeth Fraser, or her former post-punk/dreampop ’80s band, Cocteau Twins, listen closely to the airy, delicate vocals on the track. Ring any bells? No? Ever wondered who was singing on Massive Attack’s “Teardrop”? “Ohhhh,” you probably just said. “I did always wonder.”
So it should certainly come as no surprise that “Moses” sounds as good as it does. Combine a classic trip-hop beat reminiscent of bands like Mono or Portishead (dare I even say Sneaker Pimps?), the soothing melodies of a piano accordion from any romantic Parisian café, and a touch of exotic Thievery Corporation synths, and you have yourself Fraser’s first solo recording. It’s not quite downtempo enough to end up on the iTunes ambient Groove Salad radio station, but definitely calming enough to lull you to sleep after a hard day’s work.
The track includes a nice cast of other superstar musicians who collaborated with Fraser to create this wonderful mix—Massive Attack’s drummer Damon Reece and Echo and the Bunnymen keyboardist Jake Drake-Brockman. In fact, the release of the EP is a tribute to Drake-Brockman, who recently died in a tragic motorcycle accident. Would Fraser have released this track had Drake-Brockman not passed? That’s between her, her label, and God. As for the rest of us, all we can do is revel in the track’s first-rate sound and remember their fallen friend through the music. So just sit back, relax, and please try not to let the ugly remixes find their way onto your playlist. |