Tales of Us… Involving

Review: Goldfrapp – Tales of Us

Published on September 12th, 2013 | Jonny Abrams

Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory’s sixth album Tales of Us is inescapably a throwback to the sound of their gold-certified 2000 debut Felt Mountain, which is to say that it’s bewitching, spellbinding, all of those things.

A classically orchestrated and folky ‘affair’, Tales of Us is comprised entirely of tracks with single-word titles, most of them first names for that optional ‘Coke bottle’-style personalisation, albeit this is unlikely to have been the intention.

A preemptive lining for the snowfall that may or may not be imminent now that summer’s toddled off from whence it came, this is an album that already feels tailor-made for snuggling up to like a warm blanket.

Dare we say Goldfrapp’s voice sounds more majestic than ever? We dare alright, and as much is evident on the captivating twilight tiptoe downstairs that is opening gambit “Jo”.

“Drew” is a fine example of the kind of baroque flights of fancy that Goldfrapp have always done so well whenever they’ve elected to turn to it; indeed, “Stranger” even reminds of monumental Felt Mountain number “Lovely Head”.

There’s an air of ‘footsteps in the rain’ paranoia about “Thea”, which takes on a pounding step to its rhythm as Goldfrapp’s vocals soar, the brooding minor key musicality of “Laurel” reaffirming this aptitude for the unsettling that punctuates the beauty.

Standout status goes to twinkly, string-swept closer “Clay”, which takes such divine twists and turns with its songwriting as to leave you in little doubt that Tales of Us is the royal kind of ‘we’.

Tales of Us is out now on Mute Artists Ltd.

BUY: Tales of Us on iTunes and on Amazon.

Rocksucker says: Three and a Half Quails out of Five!

a quail a quail a quail half a quail

Artists: goldfrapp

About the Author

Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.