Things to Make and Do
Things to Make and Do is the second studio album by the Irish-English electronica duo Moloko, comprising Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon. It was released on 10 April 2000 by Echo Records in the United Kingdom and Mushroom Records in Australia.[1] The album incorporates elements of trip hop, house, and pop, marking a more polished and song-oriented direction compared to their debut. It features twelve tracks, including the singles "Indigo" (released October 1998, UK Singles Chart peak #6), "The Time Is Now" (UK #2), and "Pure Pleasure Seeker" (UK #21).[2] Things to Make and Do debuted and peaked at number 24 on the UK Albums Chart and has been praised for its eclectic production and Murphy's distinctive vocals.[3]Background and development
Conception and influences
Following the experimental electronic and trip-hop leanings of their debut album Do You Like My Tight Sweater? (1995) and the funk-infused I Am Not a Doctor (1998), Moloko shifted toward more organic sounds on Things to Make and Do, emphasizing live instrumentation to create a warmer, more accessible dance-pop aesthetic. This evolution reflected producer Mark Brydon's interest in moving beyond programmed elements, incorporating real drums, guitars, and other acoustic textures. Vocalist Róisín Murphy's personal development during this phase contributed to a more introspective approach in her songwriting, drawing from her evolving confidence as a performer and the intimate dynamics of her romantic partnership with Brydon, which had shaped Moloko since their 1994 formation but grew more intertwined amid the pressures of rising fame in 1999 following the success of the "Sing It Back" remix. In interviews reflecting on the period, Murphy described how their shared creative and personal life fostered vulnerability in the lyrics, allowing her to explore themes of connection and self-reflection with greater emotional depth.[4][5][6] The album's origins trace to initial demo sessions in late 1999 at Brydon's studio in Sheffield, England, where the duo began experimenting with these new sonic directions amid their established base in the city's electronic music scene.[5]Recording sessions
The primary recording for Things to Make and Do took place at Moloko's own studio in Sheffield, England, known as the BAM studio, from late 1999 to early 2000.[7][8] This album represented a significant shift for the duo, as it was the first time they employed live musicians, including drummers such as Paul Slowley and keyboardist Eddie Stevens, moving away from the synth-heavy sound of their previous releases Do You Like My Tight Sweater? (1995) and I Am Not a Doctor (1998). The incorporation of these elements brought a warmer, more organic texture to the tracks, enhancing the album's eclectic electronic and dance influences.[9][10] Mixing was handled by producer Mark Brydon, who emphasized analog equipment to achieve richer tones, contrasting the digital focus of earlier works.[12] The album was released on 10 April 2000 by Echo Records.Musical style and themes
Genre evolution
Things to Make and Do represents a pivotal evolution in Moloko's sonic palette, shifting from the predominantly synthetic electronica of their debut album Do You Like My Tight Sweater? (1995) and the more club-oriented I Am Not a Doctor (1998) toward a richer fusion of acid jazz, house, trip-hop, electronica, and alternative dance infused with live instrumentation.[13] This departure emphasized organic textures, blending nu jazz, downtempo grooves, and pop sensibilities while incorporating funk elements and subtle orchestral flourishes to create a more dynamic and layered sound.[10] The production, handled primarily by Mark Brydon in their Sheffield home studio, prioritized live drumming and arrangements over programmed beats, dominating much of the record and lending it a warmer, more tactile feel compared to their earlier synthetic-heavy works.[14] Key stylistic innovations are evident in specific tracks that highlight the album's eclectic grooves, such as the breakbeat-driven instrumental opener "Radio Moscow," which sets a playful, experimental tone with its rhythmic complexity, and the soulful, emotive vocals of Róisín Murphy on "Pure Pleasure Seeker," where her delivery evokes a blend of introspection and hedonism over mid-tempo funk-inflected beats.[12] The 14-track standard edition clocks in at approximately 68 minutes, allowing space for these shifts to unfold across varied tempos and moods, from glitchy drum & bass wobbles to trip-hop-infused downtempo passages.[13] Production techniques further underscore this evolution, notably the incorporation of orchestral elements like the layered string arrangements by Audrey Riley on "The Time Is Now," which add cinematic depth and emotional swell to the track's house-leaning structure.[1] These choices positioned the album as a bridge between late-1990s trip-hop aesthetics and the emerging 2000s indie electronica scene, with its remixes—particularly of "The Time Is Now"—receiving extensive club rotation and influencing subsequent dance productions.[14] Compared to contemporaries like Zero 7's downtempo sophistication or Basement Jaxx's early funky house experiments, Moloko's approach on Things to Make and Do stood out for its whimsical yet assured integration of live and electronic elements, prioritizing melodic accessibility without sacrificing eccentricity.[10]Lyrical content
The lyrics of Things to Make and Do mark a notable evolution in Róisín Murphy's songwriting, shifting toward a more direct and emotionally honest approach influenced by her real-life partnership with Mark Brydon, with whom she co-wrote the material during their relationship.[15] This confessional tone permeates the album's exploration of personal narratives, blending irreverent whimsy with deeper reflections on relational dynamics.[16] Murphy's honest examination of love, identity, and vulnerability is evident across the tracks, often framed through a lens of the human condition that includes loneliness, sex, and emotional intimacy.[17] In "Indigo", for instance, she employs surreal, self-consciously irreverent imagery—repeating "Rameses, Colossus" like a "rabid Greek chorus"—to evoke a sense of relational frustration and emotional distance, underscoring themes of plans unraveling in personal connections.[16][17] Similarly, "Being Is Bewildering" delves into self-doubt and isolation, with lyrics such as "Human being / Being human / Hands free / Nothing touches me / Transmit, remote, unseen, unknown," portraying a detached introspection amid vulnerability.[18] The album features recurring motifs of hedonism juxtaposed against introspection, using poetic devices like playful wordplay and metaphorical escapism to navigate these tensions without delving into overt sentimentality. "Pure Pleasure Seeker" exemplifies the hedonistic side through its seductive, glib declaration of "I'm a pure new pleasure seeker / All the way from Venus / Invading from Mars," where phrases like "party in my head" symbolize a flight into fantasy as a coping mechanism for relational pressures.[17][18] This contrasts with more contemplative moments, such as "A Drop in the Ocean," which explores themes of emotional distance and longing for connection through imagery of being "a drop in the ocean / Just a ripple on expanding seas," hinting at vulnerability in relationships.[18] These lyrics evolved from initial demos crafted in the duo's collaborative environment, retaining raw, unpolished edges that reflect their personal interplay, though polished for the final release to balance accessibility with artistic quirkiness.[19] Overall, the content prioritizes conceptual depth in relational storytelling, using irony and eccentricity to convey emotional truths.Release and promotion
Singles and marketing
The rollout for Moloko's third album Things to Make and Do began with the lead single "The Time Is Now," released on March 20, 2000, by Echo Records in various formats including CD maxi-single and 12-inch vinyl.[21] The accompanying music video, directed by Dominic Leung and produced by Hammer & Tongs, featured the duo in a stylized, narrative-driven visual that complemented the track's upbeat, disco-influenced sound.[22] Following the album's release on April 10, 2000, promotional efforts intensified with the follow-up single "Indigo," issued on November 13, 2000, also via Echo Records in CD and 12-inch vinyl editions.[23][24] This track, with its eclectic art pop elements, received support through radio airplay and endorsements from club DJs, building on the album's momentum. Additionally, the Boris Dlugosch remix of "Sing It Back"—originally released in 1999 on 12-inch vinyl and CD—was re-emphasized in 2000 as a bonus track on the album (track 18), capitalizing on its prior club success; the remix, produced by Boris Dlugosch and Michael Lange, appeared in formats like CD and vinyl to extend its reach.[8] Marketing strategies included live promotional tours across the UK and Europe starting in April 2000, highlighted by performances at events like BBC Radio 1's One Big Sunday in Bristol on April 30.[25] Echo Records focused on showcasing Moloko's evolution toward a fuller live band setup, with TV appearances such as on Top of the Pops on March 31, 2000, to generate immediate hype around the album's launch.[25] These efforts, documented in industry publications like Music Week, positioned the record as a pivotal shift in the duo's sound.[26]Commercial performance
Upon its release on April 10, 2000, Things to Make and Do debuted and peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart, maintaining a presence on the chart for 29 weeks. The album achieved Platinum certification in the UK for sales exceeding 300,000 units and was recognized as Echo Records' fastest-selling platinum album at the time. Internationally, it reached number 38 on the Australian Albums Chart, spending four weeks in the top 50, and number 6 on the Belgian Albums Chart (Ultratop Flanders), where it ranked 45th in the year-end chart for 2000. The lead single "The Time Is Now" significantly boosted the album's profile, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart and number 1 on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, leveraging its crossover appeal in dance and pop markets. While the album did not enter the US Billboard 200, it garnered niche airplay on American dance radio stations. In Europe, sales contributed to an overall figure of 300,000 units certified by IMPALA. As of November 2025, the album's enduring popularity is evident in its digital performance, with key tracks such as "Sing It Back (Boris remix)" (over 129 million streams), "The Time Is Now" (over 90 million streams across versions), "Pure Pleasure Seeker" (over 33 million streams), and others from the record accumulating more than 250 million Spotify streams collectively, reflecting a surge around the 25th anniversary. No new physical reissues have been reported for 2025.[27]Track listing and production
Standard edition tracks
The standard edition of Things to Make and Do, released by Echo Records in 2000, features 18 tracks with a total runtime of 67:06. The sequence incorporates short interludes alongside full compositions to create a seamless listening experience, with all tracks written by Róisín Murphy and Mark Brydon unless otherwise noted. Production highlights include contrabass saxophone by Nick Charles and contrabassoon by Rachel Syms on "Pure Pleasure Seeker," and string arrangements by Audrey Riley on "The Time Is Now."[28][29] The track listing is presented below:| No. | Title | Duration | Writers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Radio Moscow" | 0:25 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 2 | "Pure Pleasure Seeker" | 6:31 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 3 | "Absent Minded Friends" | 4:45 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 4 | "Indigo" | 5:36 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 5 | "Being Is Bewildering" | 4:07 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 6 | "Remain the Same" | 3:40 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 7 | "A Drop in the Ocean" | 1:58 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 8 | "Dumb Inc." | 4:26 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 9 | "The Time Is Now" | 5:18 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 10 | "Mother" | 4:45 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 11 | "It's Your Problem" | 1:07 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 12 | "It's Nothing" | 5:12 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 13 | "Bingo Massacre" | 0:25 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 14 | "Somebody Somewhere" | 5:42 | Murphy/Brydon, Ashton Thomas, Dave Cooke |
| 15 | "Just You and Me Dancing" | 1:13 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 16 | "If You Have a Cross to Bear You May as Well Use It as a Crutch" | 3:26 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 17 | "Keep Stepping" | 0:21 | Murphy/Brydon |
| 18 | "Sing It Back (Boris Musical Mix)" | 9:18 | Murphy/Brydon |