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Goldfrapp


Formed: 1999
Location: London, England
Genre: Downtempo, Folk, EDM, Art Pop
Years Active: 1999 - 2022
Meaning of the Name: Alison Goldfrapp's surname. Indicates Gregory's desire to work behind the scenes.
Core Members: Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory
Way of Working: Collaborative

Essential Releases

Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain

Felt Mountain (2000)

A dark, cinematic debut blending trip hop with cabaret and orchestral elements.

Goldfrapp - Black Cherry

Black Cherry (2003)

A bold shift towards electric glam pop with an overtly sexual edge.

Goldfrapp - Tales of Us

Tales of Us (2013)

A return to atmospheric storytelling with cinematic strings and intimate narratives.


Genre-hopping innovation and bold artistic choices combine in the imaginative work of Goldfrapp. They're an English, artistically inclined electronic duo who draw inspiration from sci-fi, film soundtracks, performance art, and, strangely, clowns.

Will Gregory, the off-camera member of the outfit, is more composer than traditional musician, while Alison Goldfrapp is the sensational singer in the spotlight. Together, they have released albums in the folk, art pop, trip hop, and dance genres since forming in 1999, regularly surprising fans who expected more of the same.

Gregory is the son of an opera singer who studied classical music at university, while Alison was kicked out of private school for failing her exams and lived in a squat. Later, she completed a Fine Arts degree, where her coursework was an amalgamation of sound, image, and performance. This approach informed the group's eccentric music videos that feature bizarre, funny, and oddly-alluring animal-human hybrids (see 'Number 1').

Alison's recurring use of animals in both her image and lyrics, exemplified by "Every word is soft as fur" from 'Stranger', reflects her idea that emotions are primal, connecting with deep urges more honest than those allowed in a civil facade.

Sultry and operatic, some of Goldfrapp's songs are icily detached, such as 'Utopia', while others, such as 'Strict Machine', burst with warm, dancefloor-ready rhythms. This unique blend of styles makes their work interesting, but the underlying creative forces are truly fascinating.

Gregory's studied, intellectual approach, with its sweeping orchestrations, is balanced by Alison's focus on the primal, forming two parts of a cohesive whole. Their work mirrors the human experience in its dichotomy of opposing, yet essential forces: the ego and id, the conscious and the subconscious, the civilised and the savage.

At their best, Goldfrapp explore the areas inbetween these extremes with stately compositions and sensual, velvety vocals. If you're ready to hear more of this unique outfit, the best place to start is Felt Mountain.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
60

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
65

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
80

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
90

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
45

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
85

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
90

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
85

Singing

i Technical attributes.
90

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
85

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
80

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
80

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
30

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
100

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
70

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
45


Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • Grammy Nominee 2006 - Supernature - Best Dance Album
  • Mercury Prize Nominee 2000 - Felt Mountain
  • BRIT Award Nominee 2004 - Black Cherry - Best British Dance Act

Certifications >>>

  • Felt Mountain - Gold in UK
  • Black Cherry - Platinum in UK
  • Supernature - Platinum in UK; Gold in Ireland
  • Seventh Tree - Gold in UK
  • Head First - Silver in UK
  • Tales of Us - Silver in UK

Charts >>>

  • Supernature - #2 in UK
  • Seventh Tree - #2 in UK
  • Head First - #6 in UK
  • Tales of Us - #4 in UK
  • Silver Eye - #6 in UK

Critics >>>

  • Q: Seventh Tree - Best Albums of 2008: #19
  • Rolling Stone: Supernature - Top Albums of 2006: #32
  • Slant: Felt Mountain - Best Albums of the 2000s: #94
  • The Times: Felt Mountain - Best Pop Albums of the 2000s: #16


CRITICISM

  • Fans of their debut were unhappy with the mainstream dance music of subsequent releases.


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