Fragments of Freedom
by Morcheeba
Metascore
62

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. MTV.com
    80
    The trio have hit their stride with a pop confectioner's treat which melds P-Funk with Shirley Bassey, TSOP soul with Caribbean reggae, and Chic disco with Moby-esque blues riffing.
  2. Sonicnet
    80
    The spy-music fetish and dubbed-out paranoia of the band's first two albums are traded in for earthy Stax soul and sprightly disco funk, along with plenty of turntable wobbles, wah-wah scratches and analog squiggles...
  3. The A.V. Club
    70
    The disc flirts with dozens of styles, with so much diversity from track to track that the album never quite builds up artistic momentum. But several moments are more than worthy of the band's legacy.
  5. Billboard
    70
    Gone are the trip-hop-skewed beats, gone are the electronica mood swings, and gone is the band's signature downbeat vibe.... In their place are sunny rhythms, buoyant melodies, and hip-twitchin' beats...
  6. Rolling Stone
    70
    The refrains may be featherweight ("You and me were meant to be"), but the musical touches that surround "Love Is Rare" (particularly Ross Godfrey's arching slide-guitar leads) and the dream-cloud vocals of "World Looking In" are strong enough to carry even the tired cliches - rarely has the shallow end sounded so richly appointed.
  7. L.A. Weekly
    70
    Despite having gotten a bit too caught up in imitation rather than innovation, the trio have succeeded in making an album that's accessible without compromising their artistry.
  8. New Musical Express (NME)
    70
    With their third album, bijou trippy-hippy souljazzfunksters Morcheeba have let it all hang out - and so all those half-formulated ideas they hadn't the guts to record earlier are here. It's
  9. Wall of Sound
    68
    It seems that the usual brilliant, blunted band has been replaced by an upbeat upstart that's only recently discovered this thing called funk, while also becoming increasingly enamored by rap -- all at the expense of its sultry, seductive star vocalist, Skye Edwards...

User Reviews

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User Score
6.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 6 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 2 out of 6
  1. Xbluannax
    Nov 20, 2021
    3
    Average album only really liked the song “world looking in” others were repetitive and boring even the instrumentals.
  2. Elliot
    Sep 18, 2002
    1
    Other than the first track, this album is lacking in nearly every respect. The melodies and harmonies that made their other albums work Other than the first track, this album is lacking in nearly every respect. The melodies and harmonies that made their other albums work magnificently are lost amidst a plethora of cliche-pop-extravaganzas that neither engage nor interest the listener. It represents an unbelievably huge step in the wrong direction.… Full Review »
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