Customer Reviews

SUPERNATURE

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I couldn't wait out the nine-month delay for the US release, so I bought this album as an import. It's good solid stuff, but I don't think it measures up to their first two albums.

"Felt Mountain" was a dreamy voyage through svelte lounge pop, and "Black Cherry" was a spewing geyser of electro-synth technolust. "Supernature" is, musically, a perfect chimera of the two: toned-down pop songs with time-progressions and structure similar to "Felt Mountain", but using the electronic wall-of-sound from "Black Cherry".

I do enjoy this album, even though I initially found it underwhelming, because the duo are still putting together songs that are untraditional and interesting, and I didn't notice this right away. The songs are more subtle and don't rely on either raw energy (ala "Black Cherry") or a unique lounge vibe ("Felt Mountain"). While I think this album is the weakest in their portfolio, it's possible that I'll enjoy it more with time, and besides, even Goldfrapp on an off-day makes most radio-standard pop seem like algorithm-generated plodding.

(This album is scheduled for a US release in March 2006. Be warned that imported versions have been found to have either copy protection or OpenDisc-based DRM technology, which can cause problems with computer, car stereos, portable disc players, etc. Hopefully the US version won't come hampered with such warts. Also, there are rumors that the US version will have additional tracks gleaned from the singles releases, so it's probably worth waiting for.)

I simply love this album for so many reasons. It is unashamedly technological and keyboard orientated. It features real tunes! It acknowledges its influences - Bowie, Marc Bolan, Glam, Kraftwerk, Eno, Biba, Little Nell, Honky Tonk, Cabaret, Jazz, Techno, Trance, Classical Music and a whole load of other stuff! Alison Goldfrapp's vocal are always interesting and appropriate and this is a really enjoyable, stimulating, entertaining, witty and thoughtful album.

"Supernature" is as good as the other Goldfrapp albums, "Felt Mountain" and "Black Cherry". How many other modern artists have managed to produce three excellent and satisfying albums like these?

I've been listening to "Supernature" every since it came out and I am still enjoying this album.

Worthy of investigation, even if you're not normally a fan of "Pop" music!

Goldfrapp's third album, which follows the steps of previous LP ''Black Cherry'', is probably their less creative and ambicious project, but still deserves 4 stars. It didn't break any new ground in the duo's carreer; the choices are too safe and sometimes lazy; they made many concessions to mainstream standars in a very clear attempt to chart high and receive many airplay spins (no one could say they failed at that) and naturallly lost a little bit of their previously shown weird-yet-beautiful poetic sparkle and arty LP-conception.
Despite of that, the melodies are beautifully accessible (''Ride A White Horse''), the singing is top (''Number One'', ''Lovely To C U''), and the catchy, simple and objective songwriting (''Oh La La'') are doubtless among the best of any modern dance floor where they could get played. This makes us believe this is the output they really wanted to offer right now, as if much more would be waiting for us where this came from, but it's just not the time to show it all off: Goldfrapp's poetry is more restrained here, but Allisson explains it on the leading hit-single ''Oh La La'': ''I don't want a Baudelaire, just get to lust'' (!).
Goldfrapp's ability to conceive and create solid albums with much self-consciousness didn't get lost, and the transparent control they seem to have about all of their offerings place them in a very special, elevated sphere among current pop acts.

This is the first Goldfrapp album I heard and from the first song, I was hooked. A friend mentioned them along with Shiny Toy Guns as some bands to look up and both recommendations have been superb. I confess I was expecting something a little more trance-ish because the album was put in the dance section at the store. Goldfrapp isn't Tiesto, in fact this collaboration (of Allison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory) is one of the best dance CDs I've heard in a long time. Goldfrapp doesn't have to be trance, or like any other band on earth. Goldfrapp is simply unique and outstanding.

I loved Black Cherry, so I had high expectations for this album. It's very mediocre. Black Cherry is much better.

This is a phenominal cd its my fav. Goldfrapp cd it gives u just that feeling that your in another world and that everything is just beautiful."Supernature" being the 3rd installment to the Goldfrapp cd's has so much power in it like the track "koko" the song all it needs is some strobe lights and its good to go.As always lyrics come first for allison goldfrapp the lyrics on this cd are more fun and not as serious as "Felt Mountain" or "Black Cherry" but it still has its powerful beatiful moments like in the song "Let It Take You" a simple piano and drum based song that takes you to another world with its powerful strings.The song "Fly Me Away" is a song where you just want to go hug someone the feeling in it is just awesome."Ride On A White Horse" is just a great song if u listen to the vocal arrangement they are just breath taking. The whole album is an experiance which i can say is a great one if u dont like the whole cd u will always like at least one song!

A simple inspection of Goldfrapp's three album covers uncannily charts the metamorphosis of the duo from chillout compilation favourites to glam electro pop. 2000's Felt Mountain features the sepia image of timid singer Alison Goldfrapp shying away from the camera, 2003's Black Cherry finds the vocalist asserting the role of circus ringleader by donning a funky top hat and new album Supernature catches her taunting the public with a topless image. Along with her growing empowerment and self-confidence, Alison Goldfrapp and bandmate Will Gregory have furthered the funky rush of previous success Black Cherry to the point where they are now seen as contenders for Kylie's credible synthesised pop throne.
While appearing demure and childlike in documentaries, Alison transforms into a horny vixen when placed behind the microphone. `I'll never walk again' she slurs on current single Ooh La La (a line that Tiefschwarz has notably emphasised on his dub remix of the tune). `I want to ride on a white horse' she sighs euphemistically just two tracks later, fooling no-one with her allegations of equine desire. A further union of diametrics is present in Goldfrapp's combination of the synthetic and the pure in their music and artwork. Even while synthesisers grapple for listeners' attention, Alison's voice consistently maintains a shimmering clarity. Goldfrapp CD sleeves similarly meld images of nature and technology in an idiosyncratic but individual style, with the title of the enigmatic act's third CD being representative of the result. "I love sci-fi and the best is always the struggle between being natural and technological," Alison stated recently. Her thoughts similarly translate as an apt summation of the music she has helped create on Supernature - one of the hottest electro releases of 2005.

The duo of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory really come into their own on their third album. It all started with "Felt Mountain" which most labeled as trip hop. However, its ambitions were much higher sounding more like some obscure soundtrack to a Sci-Fi film noir that takes place in the Alps. They then surprised everyone with "Black Cherry" by moving in an entirely different direction. Not merely jumping on the electro bandwagon the album owes more to Iggy Pop and David Bowie's "Nightclubbing". Dark, deep grooves underlie glam synth pop songs. "Supernature" takes this even further. Alison and Will were experimenting on "Black Cherry" so it has the feeling of them not going far enough; "Supernature" shows their new found confidence. Their use of Synths analog or otherwise is astounding, they twist burn, slide, rub, hum, and flow creating aural ecstasy. The opener and first single "Oh La La" is irresistible and sets the stage for what's to come. They also wear their influences on their sleeves. "Lovely 2 C U" isn't just homage to Prince in title alone. "Let It Take You" recalls Kate Bush at her most sensual and music critics were not wrong when they said "Koko" is pure Gary Neuman. "Ride a White Horse" is not only a nod to a T-rex song but also to Bianca Jagger's infamous entrance in to Studio 54 on a horse. All these influences along with the likes of Depeche Mode, New Order, and Giorgio Mororder have been put in a blender and filtered through Alison and Will. The album never ceases to titillate and surprise from the orgasmic rush of "Slide in", the cabaret stomp of "Satin Chic", the disco bliss of "Fly Me Away" and the epic, string drenched "Time Out From The World" which sounds like it could be a James Bond theme song. All of this is an ecstatic celebration of disco, glam, sex and L'amore. Then there's Alison herself whose voice is never short of amazing. When she sings "When you buy your Winnebago" in "Ride a White Horse" she makes it sound like the sexiest thing ever. The perfect pop song "Number 1" with more Nuemanesque synths and tender lyrics ("You're my Saturday") bring "Supernature" to its fantastic finish. Not only is this the best pop album of the year but my pick for the best album over all.

I was pleasantly surprised with this CD. I have never listened to any of her previous albums, but I was impressed with this one. The album is very girly- per my husbands opinion- but it's fun music to groove to. Although I tend to like harder music, this is a nice refreshing change.

Wow. Goldfrapp did not dissapoint with this record. My musical point of view can be best described as this: I love music that is danceable, but not from a vapid, monotonous trance/house standpoint (sorry trance/house fans!); I prefer BPMs that are slow enough to grind, step, and gyrate to. So, think disco, some funk, R&B (especially the New Jack Swing variety) and even New Wave/Depeche Mode/punk. That said, Goldfrapp definitely delivers.

I had first heard of Goldfrapp back in 2003 with the "Black Cherry" album. At that point they were leaving the plush sound of "Felt Mountain" in favor of a more retro-electro sound, with pulsating, erotic-sounding works of aural art like "Crystalline Green," which still captures my imagination just referring to it. It was a mysterious album, and will always remain so with me. The remixes that were made available at their website (particularly to "Forever" and "Black Cherry") only added new layers to the mystical nature of Goldfrapp's music.

But this time around, the group isn't taking any prisoners. While "Ooh La La" plods along like a mindless vamp, "Lovely 2 C U" picks up the pace even more, letting the listener know that this album is a party album. "Ride A White Horse" strides confidently, riding a groove that is quite probably the most commercially accessible ever delivered by Goldfrapp. I'll admit here that I've tended to enjoy the fact that I was the only person in my circle (which is a rather eclectic one) that knew about the group, while at the same time annoyed by how clueless people seem to be. There is so much more to Goldfrappn than this single!

Anyhow, the album continues brilliantly with "You Never Know," a song that I marveled at while listening for the first time, preparing for a night out on Chicago's northside at the Spin nightclub, noted for its 'eclectic' clientele. It was an uncharacteristically warm weekend that March, and I was glad to have the album blasting the very same day - fresh from the store.

"Let It Take You" is a throwback to "Black Cherry," and this should DEFINITELY be released as a single. It has that same, forest-y mystery that the "Black Cherry" remixes possess. Please Alison, make this your next single, if not "Satin Chic." This is probably my 2nd favorite song on the album.

"Fly Me Away" is more Northside Chicago bliss (think Belmont). I actually heard this song playing in an Old Navy. Also worthy of being released as a single. Breezy describes this song best. "Slide In" is pure dancefloor heaven. Alison lets out some GREAT vocal licks on this track. Love it, love it, love it.

"Koko" is more dancefloor heaven (think Giorgio Moroder) as it throws back to early 80s Abba-esqueness. Did I mention this album rocketh like none other? It's a synth fiesta. Then there's my favorite, the kitschy, kooky confidence of "Satin Chic" which features a delectably aggressive Alison on some amazing vocals. They blasted this song the first night I ever went to Chicago's Berlin nightclub. It was so validating. Again, lots of people didn't know the song, but of course I did. This song could very easily become Goldfrapp's biggest single. Ever. Fans of Gwen Stefani will be all over this. And there is nothing overtly commercial or bubblegum about "Satin Chic." It's just brilliant.

"Time Out From The World" is the other "Black Cherry-esque" track on here, which is probably my third favorite song, if not 2nd favorite after "Satin Chic." It's simply beautiful...and cosmically buoyant. Oh, I love this group. Seriously. This is for me, the best CD of 2006. Genre-agnostically speaking. I really, really do love this album.

"Number 1" -- the brilliance of this album just keeps coming. Great song. Great dance floor stomper. An affirming track that feels as good as it sounds. The final song reminds me of "Train" from the previous album, but just flows with more sonic ecstacy.

I hope you can feel my sheer, unabashed enthusiasm for this group and this album which continues what Black Cherry started in such a stark and compellingly sexy way. I can't wait to see this group live. I know they'd do well in Chicago. And when they do, I'll be there. If you haven't discovered Goldfrapp yet...and you are an open-minded indvidual with a taste for music that is left of center, give this a try. You won't regret it!

A VERY satisfied fan.