N°63 GOLDFRAPP - ALIVE

When you've got a heartbeat you must be pretty Alive and since there are numerous songs with that title it was a bit tough too pick a different song. At first I wanted to go for the Pearl Jam song but on the other hand I've heared the name Goldfrapp around for quite some time but never knew what they stood for. Well now I know.

Goldfrapp is also a duo who try and bring electronic music. They're not Swedish but British and they're no family from each other. The difference with The  Knife is also that Goldfrapp has a strong live reputation and they actually perform on stage. Also the non commercial side is left behind and Goldfrapp stands for a poppy synthesizer sound.

The band is named after frontwoman Alison Godfrapp who also plays keyboards. Her compagnion is named Will Gregory on keyboards and they found each other in 1999 when they worked together on a single song. A good year later they formed the Band under Alisons last name and started recording the first album Felt Mountain which made gold in the UK charts. A nice start.

The dance concept took over in the second album while the first was also heavily inspired by a folky sound. THis album called Black Cherry overclassed Felt Mountain and reached a little higher in the charts. It made platinum and Godlfrapps name was set in the dance scene.

This success made them choose wisely to go for electronic dance so on their third album you'll find less lyrics and more music. We're talking 2005 now and Goldfrapp just gor nominated the year before for their first BRIT Award. Supernature, which is the albums name, made it's debut at the number 2 spot in the British charts and almost scored a number one hit.

They took over a year to write their next album since they left the poppy electronic sound a bit and evolved into a more slow and ambient style. It has a warmer style introducing for the first time acoustic guitars. A less liked album you'd tjink, since they left their original sound but also this album debuted at the number 2 spot in the UK charts.

Last year they released a fifth and so far final album since their contract with the EMI studios has come to an end. Also an end of an era maybe, Who knows. This album titled Head First relates back to a more electrpop sound for which Godfrapp is best known. The album also gave them an opportunity to go on their first ever wolrd tour starting in june 2010.

It is said a best of will be released at this year's end or early 2012 and that the band would start recording shortly after to release a sixth album on a still te be determined date.

Enjoy.