Róisín Machine Explained

Róisín Machine
Type:studio
Artist:Róisín Murphy
Cover:Róisín Murphy - Róisín Machine.png
Recorded:2012–2020
Genre:
Length:54:27
Label:
Producer:Richard Barratt
Prev Title:Take Her Up to Monto
Prev Year:2016
Year:2020
Next Title:Crooked Machine
Next Year:2021

Róisín Machine is the fifth solo studio album by Irish singer Róisín Murphy, released 2 October 2020 by Skint Records. The album received critical acclaim upon its release, ranking among the year's best by several publications. Commercially, Róisín Machine became Murphy's highest-charting album in both Ireland and the UK, debuting at number five and number 14 respectively. The remix album Crooked Machine was released 30 April 2021.

Background

According to Murphy, work began on what would become Róisín Machine a decade prior to its release,[2] during which time she maintained an active presence in the industry, undertaking several releases including the Italian language EP Mi Senti (2014), studio albums Hairless Toys (2015) and Take Her Up to Monto (2016), and a series of EPs with Maurice Fulton in 2018.

However, the impetus for the album came as Skint Records founder Damian Harris returned to the label as creative director in 2019.[3] Harris helped drive the project forward, persuading Murphy to sign a recording contract with Skint Records and its parent label BMG, although Murphy negotiated the contract to be a one-album deal as she "wanted to keep [her] options open".[2]

Recording and production

"Simulation" was the first track on the record to be created, produced by her long-term collaborator Richard Barratt (also known as DJ Parrot and Crooked Man), and released through Permanent Vacation in 2012.[3] [4] In 2015, she released "Jealousy" through Crosstown Rebels, also produced by Barratt.[3] Both were released as standalone tracks and did not appear on her subsequent studio album, Hairless Toys (2015), or its successor, Take Her Up to Monto (2016).[5] Following these releases, Murphy continued to collaborate intermittently with Barratt, working in "drips and drabs over the years",[2] on projects that would later develop into a full studio album.

Although Murphy intended the tracks to be part of an album, she and Barratt parked the idea for some time.[6] Murphy then released a string of EPs in collaboration with Maurice Fulton in 2018, opting to release a third single with Barratt, "Incapable", once her project with Fulton was complete.[6] "Incapable" was released via Bitter End in 2019, with the single billed as another one-off release.[3] [7] Speaking to the Sheffield Star, Murphy said: "You just get a bit of a burst every now and again. It's an insatiable machine, now, isn't it—content, and music. You've just got to keep feeding it, and it's just about manageable with one-off singles."[7] Murphy had written "Incapable" in 2010, following her breakup from artist Simon Henwood, nine months after their daughter was born.[8]

Barratt and Murphy would typically work remotely while producing and recording the album; Barratt would put the music together at his studio in Sheffield, sending the track on to Murphy to record her vocals at her home in London and send them back.[9] According to Barratt, he used Logic 5.5 "from 1998" as his digital audio workstation for the entire record.[9] Describing her home recording setup, Murphy said: "It's not quite a studio. I've got an Ableton rig at my house in London, which is purely for recording and working on vocals [...] I really just need a laptop, an interface and a mic."[9]

On occasions, Barratt would request Murphy re-record her vocals in Sheffield to ensure a better take, saying: "Unless you're recording very intimate and restrained vocals, it's difficult for any singer to record themselves at home. You're having to piss about with a computer and thinking about levels, when all you should be doing is singing. Sometimes, it's good to do stuff in a studio with a booth and an engineer."[9] Finishing the album's recording during the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy described the experience of travelling from London to Sheffield during lockdown restrictions as "creepy", recalling "walking down deserted streets and being totally freaked out."[9] As a result, she felt "sure some of that intense feeling found its way into the songs."[9]

Music and lyrics

A departure from the art pop, trip hop, and bossa nova influences of her previous works, Róisín Machine marks a turn into dance-oriented club music. The album features influences of disco, nu-disco, house, electropop, funk, post-disco, electro-R&B, Chicago house, dub, wonky pop, and minimal funk.[10] [5] The album's songs reject traditional pop structures in a manner similar to vintage disco 12-inch singles.[11]

Title and artwork

Murphy titled the album Róisín Machine to reflect her ongoing creative output, saying: "I'm always up to something, I've been directing videos and art-directing for years. The album is called Róisín Machine because I am a machine. I never stop."[12] Vogue writer Liam Hess described the album title as "a reference to the tireless work Murphy has invested in maintaining her career as labels have come and gone. Learning to reconcile her endless curiosity and urge to experiment with her tenacity as a businessperson has been no mean feat."[13] Elaborating in an interview with the Official Charts Company, Murphy spoke of the difficulties in releasing a record independently, with audiences expecting a regular flow of content, saying: "That's where the machine comes in. The Róisín Machine is in full effect on those levels because I do all the directing and the visuals. I have a very prolific output with or without being on a major label, which I think speaks well for me in this day and age."[2]

The album cover photography was shot by Adrian Samson, with the artwork created by Portuguese graphic designer Bráulio Amado.[14] Murphy styled all of the garments worn in the album artwork by herself, most of which were pulled from her own fashion archive.[13] According to Murphy, she and Amado wanted to create a design that was redolent of a fanzine – "like it was Xeroxed" – rather than a luxury product.[15] Murphy supplied Amado with reference images of Siouxsie Sioux, pop-punk and post-punk women, as well as vintage S&M and 70s and 80s Italian pornography. Speaking of the creative direction of the artwork, Murphy said: "I kind of went a little bit against the music in the sense that it didn’t go full-on disco queen, I went a bit more subversive."[15]

Release and promotion

Murphy announced the forthcoming release of Róisín Machine on 31 July 2020, with pre-orders made available that day.[16] [17] Originally planned for release on 25 September, Murphy announced in mid-September that due to manufacturing delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Róisín Machine would instead be released one week later, on 2 October.[18]

Physically, Róisín Machine was produced in CD and vinyl formats.[19] In addition to the standard vinyl pressing, a transparent blue vinyl limited to 2,500 copies was also produced, retailing exclusively on Murphy's website.[20] The limited edition vinyl package also included a specially produced zine and signed photograph.[21] A second limited edition pressing featuring reworked cover art, limited to 5,000 copies of clear transparent vinyl, was released on 11 December 2020.[22] As a tie-in with National Album Day 2021, Róisín Machine was reissued with a blue and red splatter-effect vinyl,[23] limited to 4,000 copies.[24]

In promotion of the album, Murphy appeared on The Graham Norton Show on 2 October, performing "Murphy's Law".[25] Industry title Music Week noted her appearance on the chat show amid record labels vying for reduced music performance slots, due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on television programming.[25] Murphy also performed "Incapable" on Jools' Annual Hootenanny on New Year's Eve 2020, in a live version with the Rhythm and Blues Orchestra.[26]

Critical reception

Róisín Machine has received critical acclaim and currently holds a weighted average score of 86 out of 100 at review aggregator Metacritic, based on 13 reviews. The Irish Times critic Lauren Murphy called the album "disco dynamite", while Metro reviewer David Bennun described the album as "the mother lode, the cornucopia, the phantasmagoria, of lovingly reconditioned disco-pop".[27] In a positive review, The Arts Desk referred to the album as a "musical homecoming for Róisín Murphy, both geographically and figuratively," noting the album's production with her longtime collaborator, Sheffield based Richard Barratt, whom Murphy first met while beginning her career as a musician in the city.

Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis described Róisín Machine as "a sharper, more focused album than 2016's Take Her Up to Monto; one which reins in some, but not all, of its author's eccentricities [...] Certainly, it allows Murphy's talents to shine far more clearly than its sprawling predecessor." Gianni Borrelli of Australia's 7NEWS praised the album for "pushing past the standard four-on-the-floor fare" on tracks "Game Changer" and "Kingdom of Ends", calling Róisín Machine "a career best of shimmering nu-disco she's been perfecting for the last decade".[28]

Year-end lists

Critics' rankings for Róisín Machine
PublicationAccoladeRank
AlbumismThe 100 Best Albums of 2020
BBCThe Best Albums and Songs of 2020
CrackThe Top 50 Albums of 2020
The FaderThe 50 best albums of 2020
God Is in the TVAlbums of The Year for 2020
The GuardianThe 50 best albums of 2020
The IndependentThe 40 best albums of 2020
Louder Than WarAlbums of the Year 2020 - Top 50
musicOMHmusicOMH’s Top 50 Albums Of 2020
NMEThe 50 best albums of 2020
PitchforkThe 50 Best Albums of 2020
The QuietusQuietus Albums Of The Year 2020
The SkinnyTop 10 Albums of 2020
WonderlandThe Best Albums of 2020

Commercial performance

In Murphy's native Ireland, Róisín Machine debuted at number 5 on the Irish Albums Chart, becoming her highest-charting album as both a solo artist or as part of Moloko.[29] In the UK, Róisín Machine entered the Official Album Charts at number 14 with 4,724 units sold,[30] [3] securing Murphy her highest-charting album as a solo artist,[30] surpassing 2015's Hairless Toys, which peaked at number 19.[31] It also became her highest charting album in both Australia and Germany, charting at number 53 and 24 respectively.

Track listing

Notes

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Róisín Machine.[14]

Production
Musicians

Charts

Chart performance for Róisín Machine
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[32] 53
Irish Independent Albums (IRMA)[33] 1

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateFormatEditionsLabel
Various2 October 2020[34]
Standard[35]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hull. Tom. Tom Hull (critic). 6 October 2020. Music Week. Tom Hull – on the Web. 7 October 2020. 30 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030101907/http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2889-Music-Week.html. live.
  2. Web site: Roisin Murphy talks new album Roisin Machine, solidifying her legacy and plans to retire from music. Official Charts Company. Copsey. Rob. 25 September 2020. 28 September 2020. 2 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210202181957/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/roisin-murphy-talks-new-album-roisin-machine-solidifying-her-legacy-and-plans-to-retire-from-music__31066/. live.
  3. Web site: Róisín Murphy on her acclaimed new LP, livestreaming and being a 'machine'. James. Hanley. Music Week. 16 October 2020. 16 October 2020. 24 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201024123733/https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/r-is-n-murphy-on-her-acclaimed-new-lp-livestreaming-and-being-a-machine/081532. live.
  4. Web site: Róisín Murphy, a Disco Queen Ruling Her Own Galaxy. The New York Times. Vincentelli. Elisabeth. 17 September 2020. 28 September 2020. 24 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200924092807/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/17/arts/music/roisin-murphy-roisin-machine.html. live.
  5. Web site: Róisín Murphy retains her crown on a masterful fifth album. The Line of Best Fit. Todd. Chris. 28 September 2020. 28 September 2020. 30 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210130070143/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/reviews/albums/roisin-murphy-roisin-machine-album-review. live.
  6. Web site: Interview: Róisín Murphy. PRS for Music. Wildblood. Katie. 6 March 2021. 25 August 2021. 24 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824232450/https://www.prsformusic.com/m-magazine/features/interview-roisin-machine/. live.
  7. Web site: Róisín Murphy: 'Music's an insatiable machine – you've got to keep feeding it'. The Star. Blackledge. Richard. 25 June 2019. 28 September 2020. 29 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629093228/https://www.thestar.co.uk/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/roisin-murphy-musics-insatiable-machine-youve-got-keep-feeding-it-306080. live.
  8. Web site: Róisín Murphy: 'Basically, I'm JG Ballard sex-pop'. The Independent. O'Connor. Roisin. 27 September 2020. 28 September 2020. 18 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210118084308/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/roisin-murphy-interview-album-roisin-machine-moloko-b594533.html. live.
  9. Web site: Róisín Murphy: "I've got an Ableton rig... I really just need a laptop, an interface and a mic". Music Radar. 2 December 2020. 25 August 2021. 25 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210825215904/https://www.musicradar.com/news/roisin-murphy-i-really-just-need-a-laptop-an-interface-and-a-mic. live.
  10. Web site: Róisín Murphy's Musical Magnetism Is Irrefutable on Career Watershed 'Róisín Machine' Album Review. Harrison. Quentin. albumism. 30 September 2020. 8 October 2020. 21 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201221035519/https://www.albumism.com/reviews/roisin-murphy-roisin-machine. live.
  11. Web site: Róisín Murphy – Róisín Machine. Devlin. Ben. musicOMH. 29 September 2020. 8 October 2020. 15 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115084546/https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/roisin-murphy-roisin-machine. live.
  12. Web site: Róisín Murphy Announces New Album Róisín Machine, Shares Song: Listen. Minsker. Evan. Monroe. Jazz. Pitchfork. 31 July 2020. 23 August 2021. 6 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200806110642/https://pitchfork.com/news/roisin-murphy-announces-new-album-roisin-machine-shares-song-listen/. live.
  13. Web site: Róisín Murphy Is Still Pop's Most Inventive Style Star. Hess. Liam. Vogue. 3 October 2020. 23 August 2021. 23 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823230357/https://www.vogue.com/article/roisin-murphy-roisin-machine-style. live.
  14. Róisín Machine. Róisín Murphy. 2020. Liner notes. Skint Records. LC19881.
  15. Web site: Róisín Murphy and Bráulio Amado discuss their collaboration and the relationship between music and design. Boddington. Ruby. It's Nice That. 11 December 2020. 24 August 2021. 6 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210806005321/https://www.itsnicethat.com/features/roisin-murphy-braulio-amado-graphic-design-111220. live.
  16. Web site: Róisín Murphy announces details of new album 'Róisín Machine'. NME. Richards. Will. 31 July 2020. 27 September 2020. 26 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210226171423/https://www.nme.com/news/music/roisin-murphy-announces-details-of-new-album-roisin-machine-2719130. live.
  17. Web site: Róisín Murphy Announces New Album Róisín Machine, Shares Aching Single "Something More". Consequence of Sound. Schatz. Lake. 31 July 2020. 27 September 2020. 11 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111124243/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/07/roisin-murphy-roisin-machine-new-album-something-more-single/. live.
  18. Web site: Róisín Murphy delays album due to "manufacturing delays around COVID-19". The Line of Best Fit. Kenneally. Cerys. 15 September 2020. 27 September 2020. 8 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201108203111/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/roisin-murphy-delays-album-due-to-manufacturing-delays-around-covid-19. live.
  19. Web site: Róisín Murphy Details New Album 'Róisín Machine', Shares Single "Something More" . Magnetic Magazine . Ryan . Middleton . 31 July 2020 . 27 September 2020 . 20 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120072728/https://www.magneticmag.com/2020/07/roisin-murphy-new-album-roisin-machine-single-something-more/ . live .
  20. Web site: Róisín Murphy: Róisín Machine Exclusive blue vinyl. Limited to 2500 copies and half-way to being sold out! Get your copy, they're going quick. Twitter. 24 August 2020. 27 September 2020. 24 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200824114412/https://twitter.com/roisinmurphy/status/1297861674712600585. live.
  21. Web site: 'Róisín Machine' Limited Edition Set. Cool Hunting. 27 September 2020. 26 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210126022104/https://coolhunting.com/buy/roisin-machine-limited-edition-set/. live.
  22. Web site: Róisín Murphy releases a brand-new limited edition clear transparent double vinyl of new album "Róisín Machine". 33 Magazine. 11 December 2020. 23 August 2021. 23 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823174058/https://33magazine.com/2020/12/11/roisin-murphy-releases-a-brand-new-limited-edition-clear-transparent-double-vinyl-of-new-album-roisin-machine/. live.
  23. Web site: Vinyl reissues from Sinead O'Connor and Roisin Murphy announced for National Album Day 2021. Official Charts. 17 August 2021. 23 August 2021. 23 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823174055/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/vinyl-reissues-from-sinead-oconnor-and-roisin-murphy-announced-for-national-album-day-2021__33809/. live.
  24. Web site: Róisín Machine (National Album Day 2021). Rough Trade. 23 August 2021. 29 June 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629093234/https://www.roughtrade.com/gb/roisin-murphy/roisin-machine-national-album-day-2021. live.
  25. Web site: Joel Corry to play Strictly Come Dancing launch show as labels compete for reduced TV slots. Music Week. Paine. Andre. 7 October 2020. 8 October 2020. 24 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201024115159/https://www.musicweek.com/media/read/joel-corry-to-play-strictly-come-dancing-launch-show-as-labels-compete-for-reduced-tv-slots/081425. live.
  26. Web site: What's on TV on New Year's Eve: Jools Holland hosts his annual Hootenanny tonight. i. Gilbert. Gerard. 31 December 2020. 3 January 2021. 24 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210724140206/https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/whats-on-tv-on-new-years-eve-guide-listings-jools-holland-hootenanny-bbc2-812897. live.
  27. Web site: Music Reviews: Róisín Murphy / Alicia Keys. Metro. Bennun. David. 23 September 2020. 27 September 2020. 13 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201013092150/https://www.metro.news/music-reviews-roisin-murphy-alicia-keys/2155930/. live.
  28. Web site: Róisín Murphy on new album 'Róisín Machine' and why life is like a 'simulation' . 3 October 2020 . 5 October 2020 . 6 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201006115013/https://7news.com.au/entertainment/risn-murphy-on-her-new-album-risn-machine-and-why-were-all-living-in-a-simulation-c-1360631 . live .
  29. Web site: Gavin James earn his first Number 1 on the Official Irish Albums Chart with the Boxes EP. Jack. White. Official Charts Company. 9 October 2020. 10 October 2020. 13 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201013012128/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/gavin-james-earn-his-first-number-1-on-the-official-irish-albums-chart-with-the-boxes-ep__31190/. live.
  30. Web site: Queen + Adam Lambert land first Number 1 album together, and Queen's first chart topper in 25 years: "Thank you folks for making us Number 1 after all these years". Jack. White. Official Charts Company. 9 October 2020. 10 October 2020. 8 July 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210708033202/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/queen-plus-adam-lambert-land-first-number-1-album-together-and-queen-s-first-chart-topper-in-25-years-thank-you-folks-for-making-us-number-1-after-all-these-years-__31195/. live.
  31. Web site: Artist: Róisín Murphy. Official Charts Company. 10 October 2020. 26 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190326013401/https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/3353/roisin-murphy/. live.
  32. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 12 October 2020. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1597. 5. 12 October 2020.
  33. Web site: Top 20 Independent – Week Ending 9 Oct 2020. Irish Recorded Music Association. 15 October 2020 . https://archive.today/20201013212353/http://www.irma.ie/%23chartTab4. 13 October 2020.
  34. Web site: Róisín Machine (Deluxe) by Róisín Murphy . . 27 September 2020 . United States . 27 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200927160657/https://music.apple.com/us/album/r%C3%B3is%C3%ADn-machine-deluxe/1525297665 . live .
  35. Web site: Róisín Murphy announces new album, Róisín Machine. The Vinyl Factory. Lazlo. Rugoff. 31 July 2020. 27 September 2020. 29 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200929083242/https://thevinylfactory.com/news/roisin-murphy-new-album-roisin-machine-vinyl/. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Róisín Machine".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.