Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
I always found Goldfrapp an intriguing group. Consisting of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, their debut album Felt Mountain had glorious synth-driven soundscapes with sumptuous vocals and an under-current of Marlene Dietrich inspired sultry weirdness.
That was followed by the electro-glam-rock of the superb Black Cherry, and then the tremendous alt-pop-driven dance-beats of Supernature, which received the best electronic/dance album nomination at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Three excellent albums that took the group from dreamy chill-out to trendy night-club dance floors.
So, I rushed out to pick up their new album, Seventh Tree, but was slightly surprised to find that the CD cover looks all rustic and folky. Yikes, I thought, what's all this about? Folktronica? Digital folk? What the...?
However, no real cause for concern as, basically, I think it's a return to the ambiance of Felt Mountain - but slightly more downbeat and with more of an acoustic feel.
The opening track "Clowns" is all mellow acoustics and ambient sweeping strings combined (strangely) with a vocal style that renders the lyrics a mystery - a track that kind of washes over you. Then the breathy intro vocals of "Little Bird" lead us into a track that eventually builds to a powerful crescendo. This is followed by "Happiness", the second single from the album. A very pleasant electro-pop song in the unmistakeable Goldfrapp style.
The next three songs "Road to Somewhere", "Eat Yourself" and "Some People" kind of slow the whole album down. I find these three songs quite draining somehow (it might just be me) but happily we're soon on to the excellent "A&E" - the album's first single. 'It's a blue bright blue Saturday...' and the mood is lifted.
Then the superb "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" - sensual, suggestive, eerie. Followed by "Caravan Girl", a lively piano-driven track with upbeat singalong lyrics. And finally back down to earth with "Monster Love".
So...a bit of a step back from Black Cherry and Supernature.
Seventh Tree is an album of chilled ambiance with a few excellent upbeat tracks. There's certainly an acoustic slant, but still plenty of trademark Goldfrapp soaring, layered synths and breathy sumptuous vocals.
So, I rushed out to pick up their new album, Seventh Tree, but was slightly surprised to find that the CD cover looks all rustic and folky. Yikes, I thought, what's all this about? Folktronica? Digital folk? What the...?
However, no real cause for concern as, basically, I think it's a return to the ambiance of Felt Mountain - but slightly more downbeat and with more of an acoustic feel.
The opening track "Clowns" is all mellow acoustics and ambient sweeping strings combined (strangely) with a vocal style that renders the lyrics a mystery - a track that kind of washes over you. Then the breathy intro vocals of "Little Bird" lead us into a track that eventually builds to a powerful crescendo. This is followed by "Happiness", the second single from the album. A very pleasant electro-pop song in the unmistakeable Goldfrapp style.
The next three songs "Road to Somewhere", "Eat Yourself" and "Some People" kind of slow the whole album down. I find these three songs quite draining somehow (it might just be me) but happily we're soon on to the excellent "A&E" - the album's first single. 'It's a blue bright blue Saturday...' and the mood is lifted.
Then the superb "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" - sensual, suggestive, eerie. Followed by "Caravan Girl", a lively piano-driven track with upbeat singalong lyrics. And finally back down to earth with "Monster Love".
So...a bit of a step back from Black Cherry and Supernature.
Seventh Tree is an album of chilled ambiance with a few excellent upbeat tracks. There's certainly an acoustic slant, but still plenty of trademark Goldfrapp soaring, layered synths and breathy sumptuous vocals.
Here Is The Writer : Lucho Payne
Lucho Payne works at UBS as an IT Consultant, and has spent the last eight years working in banking and investment management in The City. He regularly attends gigs and concerts, and his favourite venues are the Astoria, Borderline and the 100 Club. He occasionally plays guitar at various venues around town as one half of the acoustic duo "Fagan and Payne".
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