Tales of Us Reviews

The Goldfrapp are an extreme group . Their discography is divided neatly into two : on the one hand, the ambient album that made them attend in the compilation of chill-out , the advertising stilose and the rose of the Mercury Prize on the other, the electronic works that gave their international popularity , the number one in the dance charts and two Grammy nominations . Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have always followed the instinct so stubborn , not without paying the consequences : to promote every time a disc of a different sort from the previous is complex, and "Head First" in 2010 ( a collection of synth-pop years ' 80 , perhaps the least successful of their work ) got poor results .
In an interview a few weeks ago , the singer - while not denying his electronic experiments - said to me as "the world pastoral , bucolic and orchestral " is the one closest to her at the time . And listening to this " Tales of us" , it is clear that it could not be in a more suitable .
The album consists of ten tracks dedicated to as many characters, mostly fantasy. They range from the Hollywood star stalked by a serial killer ( " Laurel ") to a soldier who has lost her lover to war ( " Clay" ) to an intersex child who can afford to be a little girl in a dream ( " Annabel " accompanied by a video of Lisa Gunning who masterfully interprets the story ) . Alison tells the lives of others by offering a new perspective on the characters of movies or novels to her loved ones, but , despite being an album in which the narrative has such an important role , the lyrics are nearly indecipherable . Seems to want to do this on purpose , so that you only paid a few words every now and then ( "lake ", " dream" , "Sunday" ), suggesting a small image that goes to fuse with elegance to the music . So Goldfrapp care soundtracks ( and direction ) of short imaginary , led by a voice that no longer willing to overdo it , but he knows still enchant. Arrangements, and a seeming simplicity , there is room for a few essential tools and arpeggios until the timely arrival of the arches transforms the intimate epic . Only one track , the beautiful " Thea " is led by a rhythmic element important , and the presence of other passages might have facilitated listening to those fans (and those record ) that they would like more lively . But Goldfrapp are not going to please everyone and always follow their instincts with obstinacy : I am an extreme group .


TRACKLIST :
" Jo "
" Annabel "
" Drew "
" Ulla "
" Alvar "
" Thea "
" Simone "
" Laurel "
" Clay"