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Goldfrapp - 2008 - Seventh Tree [FLAC]
Artist: Goldfrapp
Title: Seventh Tree
Format: CD, Album
Producer: Alison Goldfrapp, Will Gregory Flood
Release Date: February 22, 2008
Recorded: October 2006 - October 2007 at Abbey Road Studios, London, England
Label: Mute Records
Catalog: CDSTUMM280
Bar Code: 5099951830021
Genre: Electronic, Synthpop, Folktronica, Ambient, Downtempo, Dream Pop
Duration: 41:39
Goldfrapp:
Wikipedia:
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo from London, formed in 1999. The duo consists of Alison Goldfrapp (vocals, synthesizer) and Will Gregory (synthesizer).
Despite favourable reviews and a short-listing for the Mercury Prize, their 2000 début studio album Felt Mountain did not chart highly. Goldfrapp's second album Black Cherry, which incorporated glam rock and synthpop sounds into their music, was released in 2003. The album influenced the same dance-oriented sound of their third album Supernature. Supernature took Goldfrapp's work further into dance music, and enjoyed international chart success. The album produced three number-one US dance singles, and was nominated for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 49th Grammy Awards.
Their fourth album Seventh Tree placed a greater emphasis on ambient and downtempo music, drawing inspiration from nature and paganism, while their fifth album, Head First, found the group exploring 1980s-influenced synthpop. Head First also earned the duo their second Grammy Award nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album in 2010. Goldfrapp released their critically acclaimed sixth studio album, the folktronica-influenced Tales of Us, in September 2013. Goldfrapp released their seventh studio album, Silver Eye, in March 2017, which debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart.
Seventh Tree:
Wikipedia:
Seventh Tree is the fourth studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp. It was released on 22 February 2008 by Mute Records. It was named after a dream Alison Goldfrapp had about a "very large tree". Taking inspiration from paganism and surreal English children's books, Goldfrapp described the album as a "sensual counterpoint to the glitterball glamour of Supernature", their previous studio album from 2005.
Seventh Tree became the duo's most critically acclaimed album since their 2000 debut Felt Mountain, with critics praising their new sound and their bravery for abandoning the dance atmosphere of their previous two albums. The album debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart with 46,945 copies sold in its first week.
Four singles were released from the album. "A&E" was released as the lead single on 11 February 2008, peaking at number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The album's second single, "Happiness", peaked at number 25 on the UK chart, while the third single, "Caravan Girl", reached number 54. "Clowns" was released as the fourth and final single, charting at number 115 in the UK.
AllMusic Review by Heather Phares:
After spending years on the dancefloor with Black Cherry and Supernature, Goldfrapp take a breather with Seventh Tree. Allison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory slow down the beats and break out the acoustic guitars on a set of songs that suggest chilling out in a field during a hazy, watercolor summer; this is music for after the party, not after-parties. "Clowns" opens the album with fingerpicked acoustic guitar, bird songs, and Allison's nearly wordless vocalizing, making a statement that's bold because it's so gentle -- the effect is like stepping out into a sunny morning after spending all night in a club. At first, it's a shock, and then it feels great. Avoiding the glammy dance-pop of the duo's previous two albums is a bit of a risk, since Goldfrapp could probably make endless variations on "Ooh La La" and still have plenty of fans. However, Seventh Tree isn't so much a radical change for Goldfrapp as it is a shift in focus; even if it doesn't sound glam, it sounds glamorous. Sonic luxury has been the only constant in the duo's sound, from Felt Mountain's darkly lavish soundscapes to Black Cherry and Supernature's decadent dance hits, and there's plenty of it here, too. This is not Goldfrapp Unplugged, although acoustic guitars and strings waft in and out of the album effortlessly -- if anything, Seventh Tree's electro hippie-chic is the duo's most polished and luxe work yet. "Little Bird"'s psychedelic trip-hop builds to a majesty that recalls "Strawberry Fields Forever," buoyed by layer upon layer of guitar, vocals, sparkling synths, and a massive, rolling bassline. "Caravan Girl" is some of Goldfrapp's finest escapist pop, capturing the irresistible appeal of running away with big hooks and an even bigger wall of sounds backing them up. Allison uses her voice more beautifully and expressively than she has since Felt Mountain, especially on "Eat Yourself" and the Air-esque "Cologne Cerrone Houdini," where her upper register shines. Goldfrapp expand their emotional palette as well as their musical one on Seventh Tree, digging deeper into the vulnerable territory they explored with Supernature's "Number One." On "Monster Love" and "A&E," where Allison confesses "think I want you still, but it may be pills at work," the duo pulls off the confessional, folktronic singer/songwriter style with more flair than their peers. "Happiness," on the other hand, offers some surprisingly cheeky irony, pondering how to find "real love" (answer: "donate all your money") while coming across like a cheery cult anthem about trading your worldly possessions for colorful robes. With all the sounds and feelings Seventh Tree explores, it's clear that Goldfrapp doesn't miss the style the pair perfected on their last two albums, nor should they -- this is some of their most varied, balanced, and satisfying work.
Tracklist:
01 - Clowns - 4:08
02 - Little Bird - 4:25
03 - Happiness - 4:17
04 - Road To Somewhere - 3:52
05 - Eat Yourself - 4:06
06 - Some People - 4:40
07 - A&E - 3:18
08 - Cologne Cerrone Houdini - 4:26
09 - Caravan Girl - 4:05
10 - Monster Love - 4:23
Personnel:
Goldfrapp:
Alison Goldfrapp - vocals, synthesizer
Will Gregory - synthesizer
Additional Musicians:
Nick Ingman - string orchestration, string conducting
Everton Nelson - string leader
Aidan Love - additional programming (tracks 2, 8, 10); keys (track 8)
Nick Batt - additional drum programming (tracks 4, 7)
Max Dingle - additional drum programming (track 8)
Richard Evans - guitars (track 10)
Steve Evans - acoustic guitar (track 7)
Flood - keys (tracks 3, 7, 9); guitar (track 7)
Chris Goulstone - drum samples (track 9); guitars (track 10)
Tony Hoffer - bass (track 9)
Charlie Jones - bass (tracks 2, 3, 8, 10); twang bass (track 9)
Alex Lee - acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 8, 9); electric guitar, bass (track 5); Nashville guitar (track 2)
Justin Meldal-Johnsen - bass (tracks 6, 7)
Kit Morgan - acoustic guitar (track 1)
Andrew Murphy - acoustic guitar (track 1)
Damon Reece - drums (tracks 2, 3, 9); percussion (track 3)
Simon Rogers - Indian guitar (track 4)
Adrian Utley - fuzz bass, fuzz guitar (track 9)
Ruth Wall - harp samples (tracks 4, 7)
Denny Weston Jr. - drums (tracks 6, 7)
Metro Voices - choir (tracks 3, 5, 9)
Jenny O'Grady - choir master (tracks 3, 5, 9)
Strings (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 10)
Everton Nelson, Jackie Shave, Boguslaw Kostecki, Ann Morfee, Chris Tombling, Mark Berrow, Cathy Thompson, Debbie Widdup, Alexander Bălănescu, Stephen Morris, Chris Clad, Tom Pigott-Smith, Dermot Crehan, Sonia Slany, Joanathan Rees, Patrick Kiernan – violin
Jon Thorne, Peter Lale, Andy Parker, Katie Wilkinson, Chris Pitsilides - viola
David Daniels, Cathy Giles, Chris Worsey, Melissa Phelps, Robin Firman, Paul Kegg - cello
Mary Scully, Paddy Lannigan – double bass
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