Róisín Murphy made her next album in collaboration with DJ Koze.
Hit Parade, due out via Ninja Tune on September 8, features 13 new tracks that encompass "hip-hop, playful psychedelia and elegant soulful grooves," according to the press release. The idea to collaborate on a full album came after Murphy appeared on two tracks on Koze's 2018 album Knock Knock. The duo spent six years on the project, working remotely almost the entire time. Hit Parade features the previously released single "CooCool" and an LP version of "Can't Replicate," which originally came out as a vinyl-only white label earlier this year.
Murphy had this to say about the record:The studio in this case was imaginary, in the airspace between Hamburg and London. That meant we were both in a personal, private place when working on the songs. For me that brought out a more intimate approach to the songwriting, I told this album my secrets. For Koze it meant total freedom and absolute focus without the distraction of my presence. He too took a deep dive into himself and I believe that's why the music is so vibrant and alive. It is just exploding with colour!
It's a joyful record, I've never been happier, that is partly down to personal reasons but also in my work I’ve been very fulfilled. For me the record is about love and sensuality but also it's about music itself and how it's always been there for me. There are tinges of darkness, of the abyss, as well as all the joy. There’s contemplation of mortality which is meant to serve as reminder to me (and perhaps you the listener) to really live while we can.
Her last solo album was the disco-influenced Róisín Machine in 2020, which itself took almost a decade to make. That was followed by a remix album a year later.
Listen to "The Universe."
Tracklist
01. What Not To Do
02. CooCool
03. The Universe
04. Hurtz So Bad
05. The House
06. Spacetime
07. Fader
08. Free Will
09. You Knew
10. Can’t Replicate
11. Crazy Ants Reprise
12. Two Ways
13. Eureka
Ninja Tune will release Hit Parade on September 8th, 2023.
Photo: Nik Pate