Releases/
 |
New single
MELANCHOLY SKY
8 Jan 2012
|
 |
New album
THE SINGLES
6 Feb 2012 |
..................................
Live dates/
..................................
Latest updates/
Disco Dec 21
Video May 28
Gigo Nov 01
Press Apr 03
Pictures Jul 08
Bootleg May 04
..................................
Our Myspace/
..................................
Official site
Official forum
Official Myspace
.................................. |
|
| Date |
23/07/03 |
| Country |
Australia |
| Town |
Melbourne |
| Venue |
Prince of Wales Hotel |
| Reviews |
- Electronic gold
It feels like the worst night to go see a gig. For starters it's bucketing down rain, it's bloody cold and I've just trudged my way from the car park behind Luna Park to the Prince Of Wales Hotel to see one of England's finer dance/electronica artists Goldfrapp. What am I doing? If I had any brains I'd be in front of the heater or under the doona!
Goldfrapp are fronted by chanteuse, diva and vocal seductress Alison Goldfrapp, who apart from providing vocals of powerful and pulsating proportions also likes to get out her frustrations on a cowbell. Her partner in crime Will Gregory takes the front of the stage with Alison to provide vocals (lead on Tiptoe backing on others), keyboards and strings. Tonight Will has to decided to revive the frightening fashion statement that is the kaftan, luckily Goldfrapp kaftans are not on sale in the foyer after the show. It may give Will the freedom to move but it's not a pretty sight to behold.
When finding a way to describe Alison it's difficult to characterise her, she's really a mixed salad of different stage personas, part sultry diva, part opera songstress, part Angie Dickerson from Policewoman and part flight attendant for Goldfrapp Airlines, resplendent in a low cut red dress and matching hat ensemble.
To beef up the live sound of Goldfrapp three extra musicians have been added for their current Australian tour with drums, bass and a second keyboard player who also provides backing vocals with Alison. Alison commands true stage presence that has the collective eyes of the audience transfixed the moment she saunters on stage. Her banter with the audience is minimal apart from the obligatory thank you's between songs (after thunderous waves of applause) and a Spinal Tap type mention that they're in Melbourne. Must have been written somewhere on the set list taped to the stage floor!
Considering that Goldfrapp have only released two albums of differing musical spheres it's not a great surprise that a) there's a great deal of contrast between the songs they play from Felt Mountain and Black Cherry b) their set although encompassing both albums only lasts 45 minutes and then with two encores is stretched out to be just over an hour.
If Goldfrapp had toured in the past on the strength of Felt Mountain, a suburban pub such as The Prince Of Wales (which tonight is well attended but not packed to the rafters with punters) would not have done their songs justice as it doesn't tonight. Utopia, Lovely Head and Pilots are all achingly beautiful songs that deserve 'silencio' (Mulholland Drive reference) are at times rudely disrupted by the banter of the peanut gallery in the corner gathered around the bar. Obviously fifty dollars to get into a show then not really bother watching the show is no big loss for some people. I wonder if they just show up so they can namedrop something cool for their café latte-sipping mates in Chapel St.
With Alison in the house tonight and her voice in full effect (and with effects) the bar staff is on high alert. Her voice can hit such amazing peaks in pitch she could shatter glass! When not using her natural voice on one mike she can just as swiftly swap to another mike that sends her voice into manipulation overload.
The hardcore fans know all the songs, but new Goldfrapp devotees are more familiar with the newer material of Black Cherry, an album that's poles apart in it's style from it's predecessor but nonetheless an exciting brand of electronica and bass dance flavoured music.
Tracks from Black Cherry feature heavily tonight with Strict Machine surprisingly not being the climatic track to the evening. Although crowds these days seem happy enough to stand like statues with their arms folded and respect other punters personal space, tracks like Tiptoe, Twist and Train have the hardcore fans up the front stomping their feet in unison and flaying their arms in appreciation. The final track for the evening turns out to be the slow burning balladry of Black Cherry. With it's final note the evening comes to an end. Alison is all smiles and complimentary of the crowd, with a final wave she makes a hasty retreat backstage.
Goldfrapp arrive, they play, they give their thanks, and then they leave.
Just as quick as it's anticipation, the show is over. It's still raining outside and its just as cold but the warming memories of Goldfrapp remain strong.
(Richard Scott, from The Blurb) |
|
|
|
|
;)
