Ross Godfrey, Multi-instrumentalist and Songwriter
After completing our debut album, we were eagerly anticipating its release. However, we were still brimming with creativity and wanted to continue writing. This led me to leave my family’s Christmas gathering in Brixton, London, prematurely so we could return to the studio. We often worked tirelessly until exhaustion took over, leading me to sleep under the mixing desk, using the bass drum as a makeshift pillow because it’s where we placed the pillow.
One eventful night in early 1996 stands out when my brother Paul and I pulled an all-nighter fueled by vodka, during which we wrote a significant portion of the “Big Calm” album. We presented Skye Edwards with some chords and lyrics for “The Sea,” and she crafted a beautiful melody for it. The release of our first album had us busy with numerous TV appearances and tours. During a gig at Concorde in Brighton, a visit to the beach afterward inspired us to capture the essence of “The Sea” in our recording. Having grown up in Hythe, near the Kent seafront, the beach held a sentimental value for Paul and me.
We initially recorded a basic version of “The Sea” and refined it over time. One memorable night, after a pub lock-in, I brought a group back to the studio at 3am and decided to lay down the wah-wah guitar segment. On another occasion, we invited a string section to the studio, and they mistook me for an assistant due to my youth and task of making tea. When I suggested a psychedelic improvisation similar to the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life,” they were perplexed that the “tea boy” was directing their play. Paul sourced some drum loops, and we used an Otari two-inch tape machine to assemble the track, after which Skye added her vocals.
Although “The Sea” was initially set to be released as a single, the record label lost confidence and it was instead released as a white label for DJs. Nevertheless, we take pride in the fact that “Big Calm” achieved significant success and longevity in the Top 40, ultimately earning double platinum status, all without mainstream hits. It remained an underground favorite until Channel 4’s reality show “Shipwrecked” chose it as its theme song, boosting its popularity and making it a favorite in our live performances.
Skye Edwards, Vocalist and Lyricist
My journey with the band began somewhat serendipitously. My best friend, Julie, who worked at a clothing store, was invited to a party by a courier. She dragged me along to avoid being alone with someone she barely knew at a house party in Greenwich. Arriving at 11pm, the only other people there were Ross, sporting a denim jacket and a ponytail, and his friend Justin. I ended up getting Justin’s number because of his good looks and took Ross’s number intending to sell him my drum kit, which was impractical to keep in my small apartment. It turned out that Morcheeba needed a singer, and Justin mentioned that I could sing. Despite a rocky start where my car was stolen after my first performance with them, things eventually worked out.
In the studio, Ross usually played the guitar while I sang, and Paul would discuss his lyrics with us. “The Sea” always evoked strong imagery for me, and now when we perform it live, I encourage the audience to visualize themselves by the ocean. Despite growing up in the 1980s, haunted by the “Jaws” movies and a fear of water, a free-diving course in Thailand in 2019 transformed my relationship with the sea. Now, I can immerse myself without fear.
The success of “The Sea” has taken us to many stunning locations worldwide, often playing festivals near bodies of water. Once, Gary Clark of Danny Wilson complimented the song, jokingly suggesting he might write one about a tree next.
Morcheeba’s “Remix the Chaos Vol 1” is set for digital release on April 17 and on vinyl on April 18, in conjunction with Record Store Day.
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Fatima Clarke is a seasoned health reporter who bridges medical science with human stories. She writes with compassion, precision, and a drive to inform.
