Goldfrapp is one of the best groups EVS!!! No doubt. If you don't agree, you can't hear music. It's not at the right frequency for your ear holes. On their sixth album, Tales of Us, Alison and Will create an album that is a tapestry of sound and emotion, weaving tales and evoking emotion that is pure beauty. Leaving behind the 80s synth pop of their last effort, 2010's amazing Head First, Goldfrapp head straight into orchestral territory with full force. From the opening (and really only detectable) synth of Jo, Goldfrapp paints an aural landscape that tells the story of ten people, one whom is a Stranger.. It's not clear on all the tracks if the songs were inspired by the actual person to which the title refers, but some of the songs are based on people and events, like the amazing closing track Clay, which was inspired by a real letter written by a WWII soldier to his dead same-sex lover. (sigh and cry) Annabel is based on a novel of the same name by Kathleen Winter about a little girl born in the body of a boy. Simone tells the story of a woman who catches her lover in bed with her daughter. ESCANDALO!! As usual, the lyrics to the songs of Goldfrapp belie the music. The videos released so far for the sumptuous Drew and the mesmerizing Annabel are directed by Alison's partner Lisa Gunning and are perfect depictions of the songs. (Watch below) The songs are all pretty mellow, building wonderfully in most cases. Those looking for the beats Goldfrapp provides on other albums, like Head First or Supernature, will not have a lot to hang their raver glasses on her, but Thea pounds along at a pretty good pace if your looking to add to your "molly" mix from this album. Tales of Us can most readily be compared to their fucking BRILLIANT 2008 effort Seventh Tree (one of my favorite albums of all time) and their game-changing 2000 debut Felt Mountain. I just saw Goldfrapp perform this album on Tuesday night (September 10th) at The Beacon in NYC and it was so great I didn't even get up to pee in the middle of it........and I pee A LOT. So if that's not a ringing endorsement, I don't know what is, y'all! Tales of Us is available on iTunes now and for the super fans you can pre-order the box set which will include a digital copy, a CD, a vinyl copy, a book and a DVD of video clips for every song which hits in November. Anyhoo, watch the videos below and blow your Goldfrapp - Drew from Mute on Vimeo.
Goldfrapp - Annabel from Mute on Vimeo.
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