I Am Not a Doctor could have been called Moloko 2.0. A better integration of tech appeal and sex appeal than the group's debut,
Do You Like My Tight Sweater?,
Moloko's singing, writing, and musical reach are all upgraded on
I Am Not a Doctor. The result is a more entertaining and less self-conscious album. Songs like
"The Flipside," "Blink," and
"Pretty Bridges" offer a stylized
pop take on
jungle, while the
ballads "Downsized," "Caught in a Whisper," and
"Should've Been Could've Been" mix pathos with the band's dry wit. The deadpan
new wave of
"Sorry," the cyberfunky
"The Id," and the
techno torch song "Sing It Back" show off
Moloko's expanded range. Musically and vocally,
Roisin Murphy and
Mark Brydon blend their talents more smoothly on
I Am Not a Doctor.
Murphy's voice melds with the horns, strings, and keyboards backing her, while real and electronic drums punctuate each song expressively. A balance of contradictions,
Moloko keep inventiveness and listenability high on their second album. ~ Heather Phares
