"Statues" is the fourth and potentially final studio album from Moloko (Mark Brydon and Dublin-born Roisin Murphy).

There's a story to tell, probably told too many times now, about how Moloko came to be. Some years ago now, Brydon and Murphy happened upon each other at a party held in Mark's home city and producing base of Sheffield. The result of their chance encounter, some way down the line, was "Do You Like My Tight Sweater?". This, their first album, was titled with a quote from their first meeting. The rest, for Moloko, is history.

This album is notably unique within the Moloko discography, as it's the first where Brydon and Murphy has worked together purely as artists, rather than as lovers. Quotes from the pair seem to support the widely-held view that, after this summer's tour, that'll be it. Argh!

Moloko have been notable for their wierdness, although that appraisal is probably a harsh simplification of their style. The themes and inspirations illustrated in their songs tend to drift away (wildly, at times) from the usual fare. Their music approach, too, is somewhat different to the norm - this is definitely a positive though, rather than a negative. They know what they're doing though, and tracks like such as "Sing It Back" and "The Time Is Now" have undoubtedly helped to extend their market share.

It is, then, again notable that "Statues" is arguably the most mainstream-sounding album of the Moloko quartet. Maybe everyone else has moved on and caught up, or perhaps they've taken a step back towards the rest of us? In reality, it's neither of these. Although this album is a lot more orchestral than their previous work, and although song themes deal with a little more conventional subject matter, there's still an unmistakable inky Moloko fingerprint on the whole thing.

It's clear that this album is the result of a lot of hard work, a clear attempt to push forward and try and improve on what went before. It's difficult to explain exactly how and why this progression doesn't ruin the Moloko theme-park listening experience, as one might expect it to.

"Statues" is a highly-crafted ensemble of tracks that draw you into the periphery of the Moloko universe. There's the funny side, the strange side, and there's the dark side too. It's an engaging and entertaining masterpiece.