Crooked Machine Explained

Crooked Machine
Type:remix
Artist:Róisín Murphy
Cover:File:Róisín Murphy - Crooked Machine (official remix album cover).png
Length:58:45
Producer:Richard Barratt
Prev Title:Róisín Machine
Prev Year:2020
Next Title:Hit Parade
Next Year:2023

Crooked Machine is a remix album by Irish singer Róisín Murphy, released 30 April 2021 by Skint Records. It consists of remixes of songs from her 2020 studio album Róisín Machine.

Background

Crooked Machine features nine remixes of songs from Róisín Machine, created by Murphy's frequent collaborator, Crooked Man (also known as DJ Parrot or Richard Barratt). About their partnership and the remix album, Murphy stated

Parrot doesn't try to be 'cool', I reckon that's the last thing on his mind. He makes music with a real sense of responsibility to the craft. He just cannot make rubbish music, he’d be too ashamed. So everything he is and everything he has learned, is put into everything he does. I think Crooked Machine is one of his greatest achievements so far. I left him and Fat Dave to their own devices on this and they have outdone themselves! I absolutely love it!! I think I prefer it to the original album, slightly less me and all the more 'cool' for it![1]

The remix album's sound, according to a press release is as "If Róisín Machine was the big night out…this is the afterparty where things get darker and more twisted".[2]

Release

The album was first released digitally on 30 April 2021, with a vinyl release on 12 June for Record Store Day 2021.[3]

Critical reception

Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork gave Crooked Machine a 7.7 score, commending it for "present[ing] a new embodiment of the Róisín Machine ethos - a testament to the transformative power of the dancefloor, redone in shades of house and techno altogether darker and a touch more modern than its predecessor", also praising Barratt's reworkings for "highlight[ing] the durability and versatility of Murphy's art - placing her in contexts both more modern and more abstract, and still letting her come out on top".[4]

Charts

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[5] 21
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[6] 58
UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[7] 35
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[8] 19
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[9] 2

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Torres. Eric. 7 April 2021. Róisín Murphy Announces Remix Album, Shares New Song "Assimilation": Listen. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210408161334/https://pitchfork.com/news/roisin-murphy-announces-remix-album-shares-new-song-assimilation-listen/. 8 April 2021. 12 April 2021. Pitchfork.
  2. Web site: Stern. Bradley. 8 April 2021. This Is "Assimilation": Róisín Murphy Takes Us to the Afterparty. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210408143058/https://muumuse.com/2021/04/roisin-murphy-assimilation-crooked-machine.html/. 8 April 2021. 12 April 2021. MuuMuse.
  3. Róisín Murphy . roisinmurphy . 1379720964347457540 . 7 April 2021 . Welcome to Crooked Machine-featuring Assimiliation. Full album available digitally from April 30 & Record Store Day exclusive vinyl available from June 12 . 12 April 2020 .
  4. Web site: D'Souza. Shaad. 29 April 2021. Róisín Murphy: Crooked Machine Album Review. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429070208/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/roisin-murphy-crooked-machine/. 29 April 2021. 29 April 2021. Pitchfork.
  5. Web site: Official Album Downloads Chart on 7/5/2021. officialcharts.com. 2023-08-09.
  6. Web site: Official Albums Sales Chart on 18/6/2021. officialcharts.com. 2023-08-09.
  7. Web site: Official Vinyl Albums Chart on 18/6/2021. officialcharts.com. 2023-08-09.
  8. Web site: Official Independent Albums Chart on 18/6/2021. officialcharts.com. 2023-08-09.
  9. Web site: Official Dance Albums Chart on 7/5/2021. officialcharts.com. 2023-08-09.