A&E [Single]

Goldfrapp | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 12, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B0011WMHU2
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #294,393 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Worthwhile Purchase, February 19, 2008

By 

j.s. "mr z" (Bloomington, IN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A&E (Audio CD)

I would like to preface this review by saying that I am reviewing the A&E EP as a whole, not just the song itself. Many times, a wonderful song will be released on a lackluster EP with yawn-inducing remixes and less than stellar B-sides.

BUT, I am happy to report that Goldfrapp's "A&E" EP is worth every penny of its $5.00 cost. The original cut of the track is beautiful; plus the remixes are unique and interesting in their own right! This isn't just a group of remixes that add a pulsating disco beat behind the same vocals and instrumentation. They are thoughtful and distinguish themselves enough from the original cut to be stand-alone.

Of course, I only recommend this EP to those who enjoy the new track. You can listen to it (and watch the new video) on youtube. This release - and Goldfrapp's upcoming album "The Seventh Tree" - take the group in a different direction. I would urge even Goldfrapp fans to listen to the new track before purchasing the album because it is a very different direction. If you enjoy it, however, I would not hesitate to highly recommend this EP. It provides wonderful, new adventures for fans of the new single "A&E."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great remixes!, March 2, 2008

By 

Phaedra - See all my reviews

This review is from: A&E (Audio CD)

I was not crazy about the A&E song itself, but these are really interesting remixes. Certainly great for dancefloor but also good for listening on their own.

The only one that does not work too well is the last track, it has some sort of irritating tribal chorus thrown in. The other tracks are among the best Goldfrapp remixes released so far. I was overall disappointed with the Seventh Tree album, it was too slick and lightweight, this single was a very nice surprise. I guess this is quite a feat, it works for the people who really liked the A&E song in the first place, and would enjoy more versions, but it also works for people like me who sort of liked it, but wanted something different.

This is a great catch, for fans of Goldfrapp or just fans of good dance music, and it is well worth the price for the download. Actually the cover is very beautiful and whimsical, too, the Seventh Tree was little strange...

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Welcome to music 2.0. Or not., March 2, 2008

By 

Varun Nangia (Vienna, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A&E (Audio CD)

I've been a fan of Alison and Will's work for longer than I knew I was. It just took a few singles and years to realize that they were behind some of my favourite pieces of music.

So I was awaiting Seventh Tree with some anticipation. But after hearing the first single in music video form, I was sure that the end was nigh. Compared to the pulsing original beats mixed with the very best of synthesizers that defined Supernature, A&E sounded commercial, boring and, dare I say it, musically bankrupt. As with so many of my favourite bands over the years, it seemed that Goldfrapp had come to the end of the line. So it was with some trepidation that I bought the single over on AmazonMP3.com, fully expecting to pull my hair out in frustration.

Well, I do have something of a bald spot now.

A&E is, in fact, musically bankrupt. Fluffy instrumental junk. But then, a small miracle! Yes, the Gui Boratto remixes! They redeemed my faith in the single. Designed for the dance floor, they make for fantastic driving music, and they can be used to concentrate on a particularly difficult project. Quickly, the two remixes rose through my list of most played, and now sit comfortably near the top of the list. On the other hand, I found the other remix - the Hercules mix - utterly distracting. You might as well have Deepak Chopra reciting some fluffy new age feel good stuff as background.

Which brings me to title of this review: welcome to music 2.0. In music 2.0, established artists such as Goldfrapp will release music that is unfinished. Lacking original beats, great melodies and catchy hooks, these pieces will provide some grounding and foundation for the more talented DJs amongst the masses to create the most innovative and original pieces by adding beats, melodies and hooks that most appeal to them. Then these pieces will fly across the tubes of the internet to other like minded folk, who will download and enjoy these wonderful remixed works of art. Or most likely, not, considering the RIAA and IFPI and their stance on "their" music. Thus will end the short lived music 2.0 experiment that I think this album is meant to spur. C'est la vie.

So in the end, enjoy the two Gui Boratto remixes - the closest I've been to the excitement that Goldfrapp inspired in their Ooh La La heyday. The rest of the album is a bankrupt product not worth purchasing. Two stars out of five for the two songs out of five that have any hope.