Videos

Mooli – Love Hurts

• 22nd Nov 2012

UK based Mooli, consisting of vocalist Kristina Smith and writer / producer / multi-instrumentalist Ben Copland are a band full of contradictions. They are not a dance act, yet appear on several Ministry of Sound compilations. They have also released an EP and an album ‘‘Concubine’’ on one of the Europe ‘s top dance labels, following a licensing deal between their own fledging Mooli Music label, and Toolroom Records.

They have been name checked by Pete Tong, who made two of their tunes, his Essential new tune of the week. They have also been Judge Jules Tried and tested, and a couple of tunes they’ve been associated with, have appeared in the top 5 of club charts on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as top 10 in Australia. They’re not a chillout band, and yet their last album ‘Concubine’ has been called one of the best chillout albums ever, and lead to songs appearing on over fifteen Chilled Compilations including Cafe Buddha, Hotel Buddha and compilation albums by self styled king of Chill, Chris Coco, and Hed Kandi founder Mark Doyle.

Mooli have also been described as ‘truly Indie’ and DIY and to a large extent, this is justified. After all, this is a band who personally seal, and send out CD’s to fans buying online via their website and their independence even extends to them taking their own promotional pictures and shooting their own music videos, yet they also appear on compilation albums on major label Universal Records, alongside Lady Ga Ga, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse and Akon. Hardly indie acts. More like our current crop of international superstars.

Opening title track ‘Love Hurts’ with its highly addictive melodic synth hook and Kristina Smiths soaring vocal to die for is a story of ‘When you start out in a relationship and its all fresh and exciting, you go against your natural inclination a bit and tend to take small steps and try not to go head over heels too quickly’ says Copland. “But sometimes you just can’t help yourself, dive right in and your partner makes you feel special and comfortable so you drop your guard a bit, and you think ‘Oh isn’t he/ she lovely’ .Just the perfect person and all that, and then they monumentally mess up by doing something really stupid”.

An EP replete of heavy synth goodness and atmospheric electronic sounds, ‘Frozen’, a song about dealing with the shock of the end of a relationship follows suit with infectious hooky lines and stunning vocals. “You mourn for what you had, and you also mourn for unrealised dreams. You’re just Frozen until you are able to deal with all and move on.” says Smith.

‘Everyone Is Famous’ with the controversial line ‘do you believe Jesus was a star’ deals with “the fact that you can become famous by sleeping with someone and telling all to the papers without caring who you’re hurting in the process and then complain that you’re being hounded because you’re famous.” describes Copland. The track has a deep driving synth bass sprinkled with sharp synth spikes of permeating Smiths icy vocal.

‘One Chance’ shows another side of this duo in a more heart string tugging pop ballad affair with lush synth strings and emotive piano motifs and a big triumphant chorus demonstrating perfectly the high level of this duo’s songwriting ability. “It’s a song about seizing the moment and going for it” adds Smith. The track features the guitar of Steve Harris from stadium band Archive.