With a more professional recording set-up, the brothers began developing their ideas for a second album. Much of the material had already been written, and, again with Norris’s involvement, the band moved towards a more mainstream sound. At the same time, Edwards appeared on the BBC charity single "Perfect Day".

The follow-up, 1998's Big Calm, moved away from trip hop towards a more pop-oriented, song-based sound. This was exemplified by the band's reworking of "Moog Island" into the pop-song "The Music That We Hear".

In 1998, Morcheeba collaborated with Hubert Laws to record the classic song "Summer Time" for the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Red Hot + Rhapsody, a tribute to George Gershwin. It raised money for various charities devoted to increasing AIDS awareness and fighting the disease.