British band rocks

England's Morcheeba are among the many bands these days that have managed to incorporate the use of samplers and many other electronic gadgets with a charismatic female lead singer to create its music.

But unlike groups such as Garbage and Portishead, which use similar musical devices to create songs of desolation, Morcheeba is out to make smart and uplifting music.

Over the course of two albums, 1996's "Who can you trust" and this year's "Big Calm," Morcheeba established itself as a solid music group.

One of the reasons that makes Morcheeba - the band's name is a reference to a hip-hop call and response custom - such a special group is its lead singer, Skye Edward.

Like Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth and Madonna, Skye is among the special rank of musicians who are also mothers (Well, there is also that incredible voice Skye has!).

Courtesy of China Records 'Ese blimey Brits use electronics to fascinate their fans.

Skye's children however, are not subject to the padlock childhood many children of working parents go through.

"When we go out on the road we usually have two buses. One has all the toys and what-not and the other has all the cigarette butts and empty beer bottles. I always have them on the road with us, and since they are both still very young, they don't need to worry about school yet," Skye said.

Although on record the group makes use of plenty electronic gadgets and devices to create its layered brand of catchy tunes, a full array of musicians are at hand for live performances. "We have a full live band to perform the songs and naturally that gives the song a different vibe.

"The mellow songs are more rich sounding and the more rocking songs tend to rock more. The crowd is very responsive to the shows as well. We've had enormous support from the crowd at these shows. They sway and groove during some songs and they jump around as well during the more rocking songs."

The many moods of Morcheeba's music take on an array of different forms. As one can hear on their last album, "Big Calm," the group easily goes from the country-blues overtones of "Part of the Process" to the upbeat and groovy "Let Me See." "Ross (Godfrey, the guitar player) usually comes up with the songs while Paul (Godfrey, beats and loops) comes up with the lyrics. I usually come up with the vocal melodies.

"We sit around with the raw music and I hum to it and we tinker around with it until we get something we like," Skye said.

What evidently resulted on Morcheeba's two albums are plenty of songs that cross-polynate musical styles with ease.

The group has been on tour for four weeks now in America playing to sold out and almost sold out venues everywhere. Morcheeba will be playing the Majestic Theater in Detroit tomorrow as part of its last couple of weeks of shows.

When asked how she copes with the long road treks Skye says, "My children! They keep things sane around here for me. They also get along very well with the rest of the group so the atmosphere is always bearable.

"I am, however, just counting down the dates at this point."

Tickets for Morcheeba's concert are $10-$13, and can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at (248) 645-6666.

Tomorrow at 8 p.m.
Majestic Theater, Detroit

Morcheeba

PREVIEW

09-25-98