Goldfrapp – Head First – 2010 – CD review
After their left turn into folk-pop in 2008, Allison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory are now back on the dance floor (albeit 80′s style) with their new album Head First. The set opens up with a nod and a wink to 80′s-era Olivia Newton John (as well as a synth patch straight out of Van Halen’s “Jump”) titled “Rocket”. The song’s got a huge hook and sets the tone for the rest of the album that takes us on a journey back to the days of neon spandex and legwarmers. Allison’s voice is captivating and sultry as ever and Will’s clever arrangements are always fun to hear.
standouts include: “Alive”, “Rocket” and “I Wanna Life”. My personal favorite is “Dreaming” which features a Kate Bush vibe with Vince Clarke/Erasure-type keyboard parts.
the only misstep here is that the 80′s nostalgia (i.e. new wave synths, retro drum sounds) ends up overshadowing some of the songs and almost brings things down into the realm of parody. Also the second half of the album drags a bit with melody lines and chord progressions becoming too derivative of other works. Abstract album closer “Voicething” compounds the problem by ending things on an incomplete note. But I’m being picky here. Overall, it’s an enjoyable album to listen to and I’m sure Goldfrapp fans worldwide will be snapping up this release in a hurry.
RetroGrade : B
Head First
Goldfrapp
label: Mute
released: 22 March 2010
TrackList:
1 Rocket
2 Believer
3 Alive
4 Dreaming
5 Head First
6 Hunt
7 Shiny And Warm
8 I Wanna Life
9 Voicething
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Watch the official music video of “Rocket” on youtube.
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