Morcheeba at South Facing Festival 2025
With the sun setting and a summer’s breeze cascading around Crystal Palace Bowl, the evening atmosphere was a warm welcome for Morcheeba. The trip-hop band, formed in the mid-1990s and now consisting of lead vocalist Syke Edwards and producer and guitarist Ross Godfrey, delighted the audience with their atmospheric fusion of hip-hop, electronica and soul. If playing at the iconic South London venue, which has seen the likes of Lou Reed, Bob Marley and The Sex Pistols, was a daunting proposition for the group, it didn’t show in the vibrant performance they gave.
Most of the set was a trip down memory lane, with the band spotlighting their past discography, including several hits from their critically-acclaimed second album Big Calm. The syncopated rhythms of Friction, with its reggae and ska influences, immediately caused movement within the crowd thanks to the dexterity and energy of the drum and bass. In the wondrous and popular The Sea, the quiet potency, sultriness and texture of Edwards’s vocals were the easy standout. Her voice was powerful in its restraint, never pushing to overshadow the other instruments, and her execution and enunciation were flawless, which allowed the impact of the music and lyrics to further resonate. Whilst the audience varied in age and background, it was clear that the majority had been loyal fans of Morcheeba over the years, as they enthusiastically sang along to songs such as Part of the Process, Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day and Blindfold. The band were aware and welcoming of this familiarity, with both Edwards and Godfrey having a relaxed and humorous camaraderie with the audience, which further warmed the atmosphere.
Although it was obvious that they haven’t tired of performing their older music, the band were equally eager to share songs from their latest album, Escape the Chaos, which was released in May. Call for Love, which Edwards dedicated to her daughter, has all the familiar elements of the group’s sound, yet still sounds fresh and innovative. With We Live and Die, Godfrey prefaced the song as the band’s self-proclaimed “go at a James Bond theme”, and with downtempo beats, layered synths, and softly building vocals, it would be easy to envision the song in a film about the famed 00 agent. The band also diversified their set with covers of George Gershwin’s Summertime and Let’s Dance by David Bowie, but it was clear that Morcheeba’s talents shine brightest with their own creations.
Performing in an open-air venue can come with an array of challenges, namely the unpredictability of weather (especially British weather) and sound quality. Vocals, in particular, can sometimes get lost amongst the acoustics of the other musicians, the outdoor air and the audience. This was certainly not the case for Edwards, whose sensual and hypnotic voice sounded even better live than on record. In a setting rich with musical history, the blend of Edwards’s voice with Godfrey’s guitar and the rest of the instruments generated a psychedelic soundscape in which the Crystal Palace crowd happily escaped, and that ensured that Morcheeba will be a fond addition to the Bowl roster.
Sunny Morgan
Photos: Tae Fukushima
For further information and future events, visit Morcheeba’s website here.
Watch the video for Call For Love here:
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