Goldfrapp
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Goldfrapp is a British electronic music duo from Bath, Somerset. The group consists of:
- Alison Goldfrapp: lead vocals. keyboards, synthesizer.
- Will Gregory: keyboards, synthesizer.
Credited for their pioneering electronics, crystalline vocals, visual theatrics and glam-sex decadence, Goldfrapp signed to Mute Records in 1999. The duo released their debut album, Felt Mountain, in the winter of 2000 to much acclaim. The album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize the following year and produced two minor successful singles in the UK. The duo released their second Brit Award nominated album Black Cherry, in the beginning of 2003, reaching number nineteen on the UK album chart. Black Cherry saw the duo's sound move in a different direction, from chilled out electronica to glam-rock dance music. The album produced four top fifty singles and brought Goldfrapp success on the Billboard dance charts in the United States. Following the critical and commercial success of Black Cherry, the duo released their third album Supernature in the summer of 2005 to great success, peaking at number two in the UK and achieving platinum status, becoming Goldfrapp's most successful commercial release to date.
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The beginning
Alison Goldfrapp started out as lead singer of various punk and goth bands including Demented Children and Waste Product while still at Alton College in Alton, Hampshire, England. It was while still at Middlesex University, Goldfrapp began to explore her creative abilities. She quickly gained a reputation as a creative talent with a highly distinctive voice, resulting in guest appearances on multiple albums while still at college. She performed on her friend Tricky's 1995 debut album Maxinquaye and also lent her vocals to Orbital's album Snivilisation, before deciding to pursue a solo career of her own.
As Goldfrapp began to write her own music, her demos were passed on to film score composer Will Gregory by a few of her friends. Gregory had reached the point in his career where he wanted to stop working on minor projects and focus on something he could put his ideas and beliefs behind without feeling like he was compromising himself. After listening to Goldfrapp sing an early demo version of "Human", Gregory said, "This is someone I'd really like to meet. Wherever she is, I want to be there too - because I feel like I already am. I just felt that there was a connection there".Template:Ref Gregory called Goldfrapp and invited her to record a demo for a film he was working on to see if they could work with each other. Although the demo was never finished, the recording session was a pleasant one and the two began to send mix tapes and demos back and forth to each other, as Gregory was living in Bath and Goldfrapp in London. In 1999 the two decided to form a duo, having the same musical tastes and interests, performing under Alison's last name. The same year they signed a major record deal with London based Mute Records.
Recording career
1999–2001: Felt Mountain
Image:LiveinconcertmagazineGoldfrapp1.jpg Once Goldfrapp signed to Mute Records in 1999, the duo began recording their first album over a five-month period in a rented bungalow in the remote Wiltshire countryside. Titled Felt Mountain, the album was released in the autumn of 2000 and received an overwhelming positive reception from various music critics, with some providing comparisons to trip hop group Portishead. Felt Mountain was solely written and produced by Goldfrapp and Gregory; it features Alison's vocals, partly enhanced by synthesizers, set over a minimalistic, detached soundscape. The album was influenced by musical-styles such as 1980s synth pop, classical film scores and traditional folk music.
The first single "Lovely Head", a blend of classical cinematic composition and modern electronic music, was not a commercial success and it failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart. Two further singles were released from Felt Mountain, "Utopia" and "Human", in late 2000 and early 2001. Both were also well-received by critics; however, both were unable to reach the UK Top 75. In June 2001, "Utopia" was re-issued under the title "Utopia (Genetically Enriched)"; it became Goldfrapp's first to chart in the UK at number sixty-two. A final single "Pilots" was released from the album in late 2001, and it reached number sixty-eight in the UK.
Goldfrapp's success was not confined only to the UK. The duo achieved top forty status in Germany and managed to make waves in the United States with Time Out New York calling the album "one of the most accomplished albums we've ever heard" and Rolling Stone simply stating "awesome".Template:Ref
While promoting the album, Goldfrapp also became a live show favorite among fans and critics, selling out small concert venues in Europe, Canada and the United States. In 2001 the duo opened up for Australian rock musician Nick Cave and Manchester band Elbow. Live shows and high profile television appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in the US and Later with Jools Holland in the UK, introduced the band to a wider audience.
In 2001, Felt Mountain was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, an award given to the best British or Irish album released over the past twelve months. Since its release the album has sold half a million copies worldwide and remains a fan and critical favorite.Template:Ref
2002–2004: Black Cherry
Image:GoldfrappVideoSm23.jpg In 2002, Goldfrapp and Gregory spent most of their time in a recording studio in Bath writing and recording their follow-up to Felt Mountain. The two recorded and demoed everything they came up with, and used the dark atmosphere of the recording studio for inspiration. Goldfrapp even drew on the walls to find inspiration.Template:Ref The band produced a different sound from what had appeared on their previous effort. Black Cherry, released in April 2003, had pronounced, groovy drum beats and a generally edgier, more hectic atmosphere. Similar to its predecessor, Black Cherry was a critical success with London-based newspaper The Guardian who called the album "an unexpected delight"Template:Ref and About.com stating "it's the ultimate chillout pleasure".Template:Ref Black Cherry was also a chart success, however, it only peaked at number nineteen in the UK and it has sold 257,000 copies since its release.Template:Ref
The album's lead single, "Train", released in April 2003, was a top thirty hit in the UK and was follow-up by the highly popular club hit, "Strict Machine" in July, peaking at number twenty-five in the UK. The song was re-issued in mid-2004 to more success, charting at number twenty in the UK. Elsewhere the song managed to achieve minimal success in Canada, charting at number thirty-three and in the US, peaking at number one on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Chart. Black Cherry's third and fourth singles, "Twist" and "Black Cherry", were also chart successes, reaching number thirty-one and twenty-eight in the UK.
A number of songs from the album were used in television commercials as a way for Goldfrapp's music to reach a further audience. "Strict Machine" and "Train" were used for the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP, "TipToe" for a Coca-Cola advert and "Twist" for a Gancia ad. "Strict Machine" was also used in a television ad for the fragrance "Night", by Armani. In 2004, following the successful tour in support of Black Cherry, a digital only EP was released under the name Wonderful Electric which featured four songs recorded live at Somerset House and Shepherds Bush Empire in 2003 and 2001. An accompanying DVD followed.
Goldfrapp's live shows became more extravagant after the release of Black Cherry, becoming a highly visual and energetic, displaying the sleazily sexual side of their new musical direction. In 2004 the band was the opening act for Duran Duran's reunion arena tour in the UK.
In 2003, Goldfrapp's website was awarded the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Website. The website has since been redesigned as a precursor to the release of Goldfrapp's third album in 2005. The following year the band also won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Dance Single for "Strict Machine".
2005–present: Supernature
Image:Goldfrappnumber1musicvideo.jpg Supernature, Goldfrapp's third album, was released in August 2005, and carried Goldfrapp's sound further in the direction taken with Black Cherry. The album features many disco and glam rock influences such as Donna Summer and T. Rex. Unlike the duo's previous album, Supernature received mixed reviews from music critics, but was a commercial success reaching number two on the album charts in the UK, gaining platinum status. The album was released on March 7, 2006 in the United States selling over 7,000 copies in its first week (twice more then their previous release weeks,) debuting on the Billboard 200 Album chart at number 138.
Goldfrapp performed sold out shows at the Nokia Theater in New York City December 5, 2005 and the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on March 11, 2006 — their biggest US appearances to date. The band appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 13, 2006. The licensing community continued to show interest with "Ooh La La" appearing in a Diet Coke ad and songs from Supernature being used in television programs such as Grey's Anatomy, The Sopranos, NCIS, Commander in Chief, Bones and others.
The album's first single, "Ooh La La", is Goldfrapp's most successful single release, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart, becoming the band's first single to enter the top ten. Elsewhere the single achieved minor success in Australia, peaking at thirty-five on the ARIA Single's Chart. Its follow-up, "Number 1", a love song based around a synth and bass arrangement, was also a top ten hit, peaking at number nine in the UK. Released in the US as an EP, the song reached number one on the Billboard Hot Dance Single Sales chart and the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Chart in early 2006. A third single, "Ride A White Horse" - a nod to the T. Rex song "Ride A White Swan" - was released on February 13, 2006 and followed its predecessors into the UK Top twenty at number fifteen. "Satin Chic", a stand-out song on the album that features a mix of pop, disco and cabaret, was rumored among fans to be the album's fourth single, set for release sometime in May 2006. The final choice for the next single instead is "Fly Me Away", scheduled for release on 24 April.
At the end of 2005 Q Magazine named the album the eleventh best album of 2005 in its January 2006 issue. The Evening Standard in London, also named the albums as one of its best album of the year.
Also in 2005, Goldfrapp was nominated for Best Alternative Group/Artist at the MTV Europe Music Awards. The duo also headed back out on the road to promote Supernature, thrilling audiences supporting the rock band Coldplay on a few dates during the European leg of their Twisted Logic tour. The band is also set to open for label mates Depeche Mode on their Touring the Angel world tour in 2006.
Discography
- For complete discography and chart information, see: Goldfrapp discography
Albums
- 2000: Felt Mountain
- 2003: Black Cherry
- 2005: Supernature
Hit singles
The following singles reahced the top fifty of the UK Singles Chart (UK Chart), the U.S. Billboard Dance Singles Sales Chart (U.S. Dance Sales), and the U.S. Billboard Dance Chart (U.S. Dance Chart).
| Single | UK Chart | U.S. Dance Sales | U.S. Dance Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Train" (2003) | 23 | — | — |
| "Strict Machine" (2003) | 25 | — | — |
| "Twist" (2003) | 31 | 15 | — |
| "Black Cherry" (2004) | 28 | 18 | — |
| "Strict Machine '04" (2004) | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| "Ooh La La" (2005/6) 1 | 4 | — | 1 |
| "Number 1" (2005) | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| "Ride a White Horse" (2006) | 15 | — | — |
- 1 currently active in U.S. Dance charts
Music Videos
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | "Lovely Head" | Felt Mountain |
| 2000 | "Utopia" | Felt Mountain |
| 2001 | "Human" | Felt Mountain |
| 2001 | "Pilots" | Felt Mountain |
| 2003 | "Train" | Black Cherry |
| 2003 | "Strict Machine" | Black Cherry |
| 2003 | "Twist" | Black Cherry |
| 2003 | "Black Cherry" | Black Cherry |
| 2005 | "Ooh La La" | Supernature |
| 2005 | "Number 1" | Supernature |
| 2006 | "Ride a White Horse" | Supernature |
| 2006 | "Fly Me Away" | Supernature |
Notes
- Template:Note Sean Flinn. "Scaling Felt Mountain". Goldfrapp 1. Choler Magazine. Jan. 25, 2002. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2006.
- Template:Note "Goldfrapp: Once Upon A Time on Felt Mountain". Goldfrapp 2. Mute Official Site. 2000. Retrieved Feb. 22, 2006.
- Template:Note "Goldfrapp". Goldfrapp 3. Contact Music. 2003. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2006.
- Template:Note "Goldfrapp: New Album Black Cherry". Goldfrapp 4. Mute Official Site. 2003. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2006.
- Template:Note Alexis Petridis. "Goldfrapp: Black Cherry". Goldfrapp 5. Guardian Unlimited. Apr. 18, 2003. Retrieved Feb. 22, 2006.
- Template:Note Wes May. "Goldfrapp: Black Cherry". Goldfrapp 6. About.com. 2003. Retrieved Feb. 22, 2006.
- Template:Note "Week 34 Chart Roundup". Goldfrapp 7. Chart Singles.net. Aug. 30, 2005. Retrieved Feb. 21, 2006.
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
External links
- Official site (requires Flash version 6)
- Official Myspace site
- Alison Goldfrapps Mobile Blog
- Mute record label pages on Goldfrapp
- Goldfrapp.de
- Goldfrapp.Free.Fr
- BBC Music
- Review of Alison Goldfrapp live in Dublin in 2001
- Goldfrapp lyrics
- Template:Discogs artist
- Template:Musicbrainz artist
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