Goldfrapp - Black Cherry

Most people were telling me I shouldn't buy "Black Cherry" because it was allegedely not as good as Felt Mountain. So many people were strongly recommending I check out Felt Mountain first.

Well... I did. I don't know what those people were on.

"Black Cherry" is an awesome album filled with nice synths and unique sounding tracks.

The album does give you the impression that all tracks were recorded around the same time but they do still stand out from each other.

Most likable tracks you ask?

'Train', 'Hairy Trees', 'Twist', 'Strict Machine' and 'Slippage'.

5 goodies, now isnt that a good enough reason to buy it?

"Slippage" being my favourite. It contains Alison making some nice sounds if you know what I mean.

So please people, if you've only heard one or two Goldfrapp songs and your not sure which album to spend your earnings on... get this one, you won't be disappointed.

-This is the one with the most creative music
-This is the one where Alison is at her dirtiest

and most importantly,

-This is the one that you will be proud of owning.

I admit: I wasn't too fond of Black Cherry at first. But repeated listens, I find myself more and more drawn to it. It's a departure from Felt Mountain and that probably has something to do with my reaction. But whereas Felt Mountain is a orchestral cabaret in Weimar Germany, Black Cherry is a electro disco in a neon-lit burlesque. The songwriting is still strong -- just with more electronic instrumentation. Listen to "Black Cherry" and see what I mean. "Train" and "Twist" are the obvious club-oriented songs, but my personal favorite has to be the alternately dirty and angelic "Tiptoe." Goldfrapp is a musical force to be reckoned with. Can't wait to hear their next incarnation.

The May 2003 marked of Black Cherry with 12 ripe tracks with 10 new licks added to the album. The ethereally sticky sounds of “Deep Honey” (track 5) intrigue the ears and tease the brain to a delightful Theta wave state. The next track, “Hairy Trees” is a tremendous branching out from “Deep Honey.” The back to back tracks go from plea to shiny sea. Without the cued break in the CD, you would think the licks are the same mix. In many ways, this album is a tripped out analogy of Winnie the Pooh. Except in Black Cherry, Christopher Robbins really learns what is to be a man who likes bears who like Deep Honey. Track 7, “Twist” is rooted in sexual fantasy with a heated plea to a targeted naughty carnie. With honey sweet solicitation, Alison requests or better yet demands, “put your dirty angel face between my legs and knicker lace.” Goldfrapp’s Black Cherry was unofficially popped for it’s Denver debut at the Compound. DJ Zac Reclipze (zacreclipze.com) twirled tantalized Compound herds when he turn-tabled the tawdry Black Cherry track “Twist” with great titillation. Black Cherry is an unapologetic and elegant heterodox album of songs which deems Goldfrapp and Gregory as a new provocative tour de force in the evolution of intelligent music.

Unlike its dreamy predecessor 'Felt Mountain', 'Black Cherry' is musically either Add N to (X) or was it that the latter should have hired Alison Goldfrapp to sing along their wall of sound which might be quite good combination as the new album suggests... A good modern electronic pop record the way it is supposed to be - dynamic, catchy and sometimes irritatingly repetitive, still each song lasts for merely three-four minutes so the doses are kept small and on the right level. If you listen to it closely there are certain parallels to experiments that AC Marias made with Dome, or Moloko's par excellence, still Alison Goldfrapp stands proudly alongside theirs, making her own powerful statements with great avant-garde precision towards pop accesibility that will keep you busy losing your senses.

Sure, they've developed their own dark side... but you could expect MORE! felt more high- valued the "lyrical" tracks, like Hairy Trees... actually a good record, but can't stand the uncomfortable precedent of Lovely Head.