Goldfrapp :: Seventh Tree
My prior knowledge of Goldfrapp is fairly limited. My broad impression was of a band that specialized in the kind of disco-glam anthems likely to soundtrack your next visit to The Gap. How was I to know they were as capable at making music for headphones as they were for dancefloors?
Seventh Tree is the English duo’s fourth album. I’d read some fairly rapturous reviews of the album that tossed around words like “folky”, “pastoral” and “psychedelic” — words that on their own don’t necessarily merit an investigation, but when used in conjunction certainly make me take notice. While the album isn’t quite as dusty or rustic as I perhaps was lead to believe, it does deliver a captivating listen on its own terms.
For this album, the band gives the backbeats a break, instead offering up a sonic signature that places an emphasis on warm washes of analogue synths, occasional finger picked acoustic guitar and some sweeping string arrangements that at times feel borrowed from a Nick Drake record. Of course, the real star of the show here is singer Alison Goldfrapp, who has a dynamic range that calls to mind Kate Bush.
Much of Seventh Tree floats out of the speakers pleasantly enough, but the album is peppered with occasional highlights. “Little Bird” spends its first half prettily trading in the album’s primary colors, but explodes and builds to a climax that sounds roughly like what would happen if a Hofner bass-weilding Paul McCartney crashed a Cocteau Twins session. “Cologne Cerrone Houdini” see’s Goldfrapp auditioning to be the next Bond girl. And “Caravan Girl” has some serious hit potential, the album’s most upbeat moment that reminds me of Saint Etienne’s high water mark, Good Humour.
The one I’m really stuck on though is “A&E”, the album’s first single. It’s a poignant “Drugs Don’t Work” lament, coming across like Pulp’s “Sorted For E’s & Wizz”, if it were written by Jarvis Cocker’s neurotic sister. It also features one of the more memorable videos I’ve seen in a long time.
Goldfrapp, Seventh Tree (Mute, 2008)
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Little Bird
Caravan Girl
March 26th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
The first Goldfrapp album is kind of like this new one, but is a lot more Portishead-y. Spooky stuff.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Yeah, that’s kind of what I gather. I’m not such a big Portishead fan though, so a movement in that direction kind of scares me. I’m curious to hear more of their stuff in general.
Oh, and I realize that I come off as slightly dismissive of their earlier efforts here. I liked the bits I heard here and there, just not enough to really make me seek out anything substantial. “Number 1″ is pretty irresistible as far as dance pop goes, as I recall.
The new one is nice. It’s still a bit glossier than I had hoped based on the descriptions, but I’m finding that the more I listen, the more I like. I guess their version of “earthy” is still kind of “spacey”…if that makes any sense?!
March 26th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Well, as Christian once said, who needs Portishead when you have Hooverphonic?
I’ve given Seventh Tree a few more listens of late, and it’s growing on me quite a bit. I also think A&E is the standout. Think I’d liken her voice more to that of Annie Lennox than Kate Bush. Which is also the ultimate problem with the music: like Lennox’s solo stuff, it’s maybe just a bit too Starbucks-friendly. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing except that Starbucks has somehow made it so. How did they do that?