Crooked Machine

Crooked Machine
Remix album by
Róisín Murphy
Released30 April 2021 (2021-04-30)
Genre
Length58:45
Label
ProducerRichard Barratt
Róisín Murphy chronology
Róisín Machine
(2020) 		Crooked Machine
(2021) 		Hit Parade
(2023)
Singles from Crooked Machine
  1. "Assimilation"
    Released: 7 April 2021

Crooked Machine is a remix album by Irish singer Róisín Murphy, released 30 April 2021 by Skint Records. It consists of remixes of songs from her 2020 studio album Róisín Machine.

Background

Crooked Machine features nine remixes of songs from Róisín Machine, created by Murphy's frequent collaborator, Crooked Man (also known as DJ Parrot or Richard Barratt). About their partnership and the remix album, Murphy stated

Parrot doesn't try to be 'cool', I reckon that's the last thing on his mind. He makes music with a real sense of responsibility to the craft. He just cannot make rubbish music, he’d be too ashamed. So everything he is and everything he has learned, is put into everything he does. I think Crooked Machine is one of his greatest achievements so far. I left him and Fat Dave to their own devices on this and they have outdone themselves! I absolutely love it!! I think I prefer it to the original album, slightly less me and all the more 'cool' for it![1]

The remix album's sound, according to a press release is as "If Róisín Machine was the big night out…this is the afterparty where things get darker and more twisted".[2]

Release

The album was first released digitally on 30 April 2021, with a vinyl release on 12 June for Record Store Day 2021.[3]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[4]
Albumism[5]
Pitchfork7.7/10[6]

Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork gave Crooked Machine a 7.7 score, commending it for "present[ing] a new embodiment of the Róisín Machine ethos - a testament to the transformative power of the dancefloor, redone in shades of house and techno altogether darker and a touch more modern than its predecessor", also praising Barratt's reworkings for "highlight[ing] the durability and versatility of Murphy's art - placing her in contexts both more modern and more abstract, and still letting her come out on top".[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Richard Barratt and Róisín Murphy, except where noted. All tracks are produced by Richard Barratt[8]

Crooked Machine track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Kingdom of Machines" 6:28
2."Echo Returns" 5:55
3."Capable Rhythm" 6:06
4."Assimilation"
  • Michael Ward
  • Barratt
  • Murphy
6:54
5."Crooked Madame" 7:15
6."Less Is More"
  • Amy Douglas
  • Barratt
  • Murphy
6:41
7."Name Changer" 5:49
8."We Are the Law"
  • Dean Honer
  • Ward
  • Barratt
  • Murphy
6:12
9."Hardcore Jealousy" 7:25
Total length:58:45

Charts

Chart performance for Crooked Machine
Chart (2021) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[9] 21
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[10] 58
UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[11] 35
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[12] 19
UK Dance Albums (OCC)[13] 2

References

  1. ^ Torres, Eric (7 April 2021). "Róisín Murphy Announces Remix Album, Shares New Song "Assimilation": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  2. ^ Stern, Bradley (8 April 2021). "This Is "Assimilation": Róisín Murphy Takes Us to the Afterparty". MuuMuse. Archived from the original on 8 April 2021. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  3. ^ Róisín Murphy [@roisinmurphy] (7 April 2021). "Welcome to Crooked Machine-featuring Assimiliation. Full album available digitally from April 30 & Record Store Day exclusive vinyl available from June 12" (Tweet). Retrieved 12 April 2020 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Phares, Heather. "Crooked Machine – Roísín Murphy". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  5. ^ Hocter, Matthew (19 May 2021). "Róisín Murphy & Richard Barratt's Symbiotic Musical Vision Radiates on Transformative 'Crooked Machine' | Album Review". Albumism. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  6. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (29 April 2021). "Róisín Murphy: Crooked Machine Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 18 May 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  7. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (29 April 2021). "Róisín Murphy: Crooked Machine Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  8. ^ "Crooked Machine by Róisín Murphy on Spotify". Spotify. 30 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 June 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  9. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart on 7/5/2021". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  10. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart on 18/6/2021". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  11. ^ "Official Vinyl Albums Chart on 18/6/2021". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  12. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 18/6/2021". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.
  13. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart on 7/5/2021". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2023-08-09.