Music Review: Goldfrapp Seventh Tree

Even if you've never bought a Goldfrapp album, I guarantee that you have heard every track they have ever made whilst sitting in a cool (or not so cool) pre-club ambient style bar somewhere. They couldn't have seen it coming, but there's pretty much nothing they can do to stop the rot now- to get bars like that to stop playing Goldfrapp would be like telling them to stop playing Air's Moon Safari. The darling's of the 30 something Q reader; the thinking man's electronica; they may have seemed a bit too glib and soulless for some. I have a foot in both camps- I thought Black Cherry was something of a masterpiece; a glorious fusion of Bolan-esque glam rock, perfect electronic pop with a delicious edge of 30's burlesque. Supernature was less convincing. Sounding every bit like Black Cherry on the outside, it had decidedly less flavour when you bit into it, and a shorter shelf life. Enter Seventh Tree, the latest offering Ms Goldfrapp and Mr Gregory. A strangely pastoral affair; The Seventh Tree incorporates acoustic guitars (what?!) Wicker Man-esque folksy-ness, and even a hint of Elizabeth Frazer. I was wrong to have worried that turning down the effects on Alison Goldfrapp's voice might have exposed relatively weak vocals. Actually it does, but it totally doesn't matter, the result is a warm delicate sound something like Britt Ekland (or should that be Annie Ross) from the aforementioned Wicker Man, or Janice Ian, or Dana! Stand out tracks are Clowns and the current single A&E. Are they different enough to become the staple of Old Jock's Tavern instead of The Opal Lounge? Don't be daft, they haven't changed that much! But they have added something warm and human to their sound. And don't worry, even if you don't want to go out and buy it, you will shortly be able to listen to it in any bar that sports leather couches, polished floor boards and serves warmed goat's cheese parcels. Yum.