I Am Not a Doctor

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