Murphy had no prior professional singing experience when Moloko was formed,[1] while Brydon had previously worked on music as a producer with musicians such as Boy George and Cabaret Voltaire on releases from the 1990s.[2] In 1994, the two met at a party in Sheffield, where Murphy approached Brydon with the chat-up line, "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body!"[1] Its first sentence became their debut album's title, recorded while the pair had begun dating.[1] The name Moloko comes from the narcotic-filled milk drink, Moloko Plus, in the Anthony Burgess novel A Clockwork Orange,[3] based on the Russian for milk, "молоко" ("moloko").
After Moloko finished the tour, they built a home studio and recorded their second album, titled I Am Not a Doctor, which was released in 1998 in the United Kingdom.[1] Though the album was unsuccessful, reaching only number 64 in the UK Albums Chart, a Boris Dlugosch remix of "Sing It Back", the third single from the album that originally failed to reach the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, was a huge hit, reaching number four in the UK chart and number one in the US Dance Chart. Moloko toured in support of the album, opening for Garbage in UK and Ireland in January and February 1999.[5]
Their third album Things to Make and Do was released in the year 2000[6] and reached number three in the UK Albums Chart. The first single, "The Time Is Now" was their biggest hit, charting at number two in the charts. They started touring as a full band along with percussionist Paul Slowly, keyboardist Eddie Stevens, and guitarist Dave Cooke.[7]
Statues and disbandment (2003–2004)
Their 2003 album Statues produced two hit singles, "Familiar Feeling", which reached number ten in the UK, and "Forever More", which reached number 17. Brydon and Murphy ended their romantic relationship in 2002, just before they began work on the album.[8] Murphy toured without Brydon for eighteen months in support of the album throughout 2003 and 2004.[8] The concert at the Brixton Academy, recorded on 22 November 2003, was released on the live DVD 11,000 Clicks in 2004. Following the tour, the group disbanded.[1]
Post-disbandment (2004–present)
Following the disbandment, both Murphy and Brydon began solo careers, with the former releasing her first solo album, Ruby Blue, in 2005.
On 22 May 2006, the band announced their greatest hits albumCatalogue, including the unreleased track "Bankrupt Emotionally", released on 17 July.[9][8][10] The same year, Murphy and Brydon, along with long-time Moloko guitarist Cooke, briefly interrupted their hiatus to play a select number of acoustic radio performances.[5][11][12]
In 2016, Moloko digitally reissued their remixes on the compilation All Back To the Mine, split into two volumes and comprising a total of 68 tracks.[13][14]
In 2019, the four Moloko albums were remastered and reissued on vinyl.[15][16]
Since the band's disbandment, Murphy has performed several Moloko songs on her solo tours and live performances.[15] However, she has stated in several interviews that she has no intention of reuniting with Brydon.[8][17][18][15][16]
All Back to the Mine (2001) is a collection of 21 remixes (23 in Japan). Vol. I and Vol. II (2016) each contain 34 remixes, for a total of 68. Not all of the remixes on the 2001 version are included on the 2016 versions.[34]
Top 100 peaks: Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 192.
"Where Is the What If the What Is in Why?", "Dominoid", "Fun for Me", "Day for Night", "The Flipside", "Pure Pleasure Seeker", "Indigo", "Forever More" and "Cannot Contain This": "Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received 15 July 2015". Imgur.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
^ ab"Moloko - hitparade.ch" (in German). Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014. Click "Charts" and select either Songs or Alben (Albums) to see peaks.
