Things to Make and Do is the third album by the electronic/dance duo Moloko, released in the UK by Echo Records in 2000. It was a sonic departure for Moloko, with the tracks being less reliant on electronics and more on live musicians. In addition to the change in musical styles, the lead singer, Róisín Murphy, had changed her lyrical style. At time of release, Murphy summed up the previous style of her lyrics, saying, "I was nineteen when I made Tight Sweater, and I knew I was pretending, but if I tried not to, I'd still be pretending. Now, I know myself better," and her lyrics on this album are described as, "Roisin's most direct and emotionally honest lyrics [so far]."[3][a]
After the release of Things to Make and Do, offers came in for Murphy to guest on others' records, most notably The Psychedelic Waltons, Boris D. and Handsome Boy Modelling School. The album held the record as Echo's fastest-selling UK platinum record, until beaten by Feeder's The Singles compilation six years later. The track "Indigo" was featured on the soundtrack to Mystery Men.
As of May 2015, the album has sold over 355,000 copies in the UK.[4] As of December 2000 it has sold more than 750,000 units worldwide.[5]
Singles and bonus tracks
"The Time Is Now", the album's first single, became Moloko's biggest hit, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and prompted a number three UK album début for Things to Make and Do.[6]
Before the album's release, an unsolicited Boris Dlugosch "Sing It Back" remix became a club, then mainstream, hit (it was originally a drum and bass-ish track on I Am Not a Doctor, their previous album). After the remix became a significant hit in Ibiza and Miami, then achieved scores of dance mix compilation inclusions, it was added to Things to Make and Do as a bonus track.
Track listing
All tracks written by Mark Brydon and Róisín Murphy, except where noted. All music published by Chrysalis Music Publishing.
