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Date October 10 2003
Type Interview
Source Fuse FM
Title Goldfrapp
Country UK
Journalist/Photographer Kate Fitzpartick / Joe Dillworth
Text I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous before speaking to the elusive Miss. Alison Goldfrapp, one half of the noir-electro-pop outfit Goldfrapp, not as a result of poor research or ill prepared questions (for I have in fact been a fan of their work since their debut back in 2000) but as a consequence of hearing stories of fans being covered in red wine after not putting out their fags and her general distain for journalists and interviewers alike.

However this was an interview over the phone, but still...

Goldfrapp have been members of the British Music Scene for some time now releasing their first long player, Felt Mountain back in 2000 to wide critical acclaim, with public enthusiasm, slowly following.

In May of this year after months locked in the studio Alison and fellow Goldfrappian Will Gregory returned with the intoxicating 'Black Cherry', a total change in direction but still distinctly 'Goldfrapp'.

This year has seen the band complete one full UK tour a tour of the US and appear at a number of festivals in Europe & Asia and as if that wasn't enough Alison had time to fit in some Djing in Ibiza.

I managed to grab a few words with the today very 'fluey' front woman the morning after playing Manchester's Academy and asked just what she really gets up to with her theremin...

You played Manchester last night how was it? You said you were really nervous and that we've got a reputation here - what did you mean??

Erm.. I don't know, you know you have! Why do they think people say that you're mad for it?! It was great last the crowd were really good.

This was the first time you played the Academy?

Yeah, it was. Last time I think we played somewhere over the road (Academy 2) which was a lot smaller, but tonight it was great.

You've just come back from touring America, how did that differ from here?

The audiences are a lot quieter than here and people are more familiar over there with Black Cherry than Felt Mountain. We're quite underground over there. And I do think it is better to play venues with bars like here.

Why is that then?

I don't know I suppose it's because people can just talk and drink and listen. And it's my job to sing and make them listen

Black Cherry has been out since May, are you still enjoying touring the material?

Yeah, totally I love doing it. It's still like playing it for the first time, not at all tired of the material there's so much energy.

Black Cherry is a totally different sounding record - was it a conscious decision to steer away from the sound of Felt Mountain or did it just evolve that way?

Well we definitely didn't want to make another Felt Mountain. We wanted to introduce more rhythm and dynamics and give it a completely different mood. I personally love the dynamic of old songs, and this album is so much more intense.

The album artwork is really interesting, where did the ideas come from?

I don't know really, it just occurred to me. I'm always making things when I'm writing, I like the depiction of art and literature and I was making lots of collages when I was writing as they're easy and cheap and I just carried them through in the artwork and onto the website.

You're a very visual band, is that a really important aspect to you or is simply personal style coming through?

It is personal style but I think visual is all part of narrative and song, music has a narrative part so as I said I just carry it all through.

The outfits you wear are particularly provocative and scream attention yet you come across as shy on stage, is that a persona or are you genuinely nervous?

I am quite shy, but when I'm on stage I love the singing and performing part of it I feel really comfortable, it's just the bit that comes in between I think argh what do I say and then I don't feel comfortable.

Is that because you're frightened of the way you'll come across?

Not really, it's just I'm not very good at the talking thing and I never have been.

Twist is the new single - what's it all about?

It's about going to the fairground when you're a teenager and first discovering that you're sexually charged and that you're strong and confident. It's about a girl having her first real crush on a dirty gypsy boy...

Is this based on personal experience??

YEAH! Totally, I had this crush on a boy and then he spun me around on the Wurlitzer it was scary but at the same time really exciting, it's romantic but at the same time dirty.

The B-Side to the single is a cover of Baccarra's 'Yes Sir I can Boogie'- why did you chose that track?

I've always really liked the song, there's something really kitsch and sexy about it.

If anyone could cover a Goldfrapp song who would you like it to be and what song?

Oh god, I don't know and actually I don't really care (laughs)

During that song you get really familiar with you're theremin (go and see the live show if you don't know what I'm on about) is that on-tour frustration coming out?

Do you mean because I'm not having any sex, well I'm having plenty (laughs)

You're remixed the new Marilyn Manson single, how did that happen?

Well I'd describe it as the zeitgeist, it was something I was thinking about and then it just kind of happened. It was the first remix we'd ever done and it went really well.

Did you meet the man himself?

No, all the stuff just got sent to us but he did send a really sweet email afterwards though.

So what are your plans for after the tour?

Well I'd like to go walking in the country and go and eat lots of good food because when you're on tour the food is shit!

With that I felt it polite that I left Alison to recuperate in bed for the 2 hours she had left in Manchester. On putting the phone down there was no sigh of relief and a great 'oh thank god that's over', for in fact she was the perfect interviewee and even ended up giving me some advice on where to buy a decent bra, but I'll leave that conversation for another time...

 
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