Goldfrapp - Head First

There's a roller derby inhabited solely by spunky women in happy pink leotards somewhere that is absolutely thrilled with Goldfrapp's fifth studio album, Head First. It is so deeply inoffensive and unassuming that the violent lyrical content in the lead single, "Rocket," goes by mostly unnoticed due to the fluffiest of candy coatings. Head First plays like an '80s soundtrack without the emphasis on the electric guitar, or a La Roux album without the bite.

Not that Goldfrapp has ever had an issue sounding passive, but to anyone who has ever seen Alison whipping local plant life with a switch, something this bubbly is worth taking note of.

A Brief History Of...

An introduction like that requires some history. Alison Goldfrapp used to be a vocalist for Tricky and Orbital before getting together with Goldfrapp's other half, Will Gregory. Felt Mountain would be the group's debut album in 2000, landing them firmly in the chill department of the electronica genre. The lush and synthetic feel to the group's own brand of music garnered them a lot of attention, and the pressure was on to release a sophomore effort that matched or topped their debut. Enter Black Cherry, the 2003 answer that shattered everyone's expectations. Gone were the simple and soothing arrangements, replaced by stuttering electro rhythms and racy lyrics. This was attention-grabbing electronica, and would pave the way for their triumphant third album, 2005's Supernature. This would be the release that would make Goldfrapp indie darlings. Making glam rock hot and relevant, Goldfrapp would enjoy significant success in the US with tracks like "Ooh La La" and "Ride A White Horse." It would also create the type of pressure one normally has after a debut album as a whole new country was looking to see what the duo would do next. Goldfrapp answered yet again with the surprisingly mellow Seventh Tree. While their fourth album didn't have the punch of previous efforts, it was still a solid listen. Which brings us back to Head First.

The album begins almost before you know it. The sound of wind rushing by ushers in the gentle synths of "Rocket" which seems to ironically end with a countdown and the words, "We have liftoff." But the true liftoff is the rest of the album, which features a variety of memorable moments for the album. "Believer" strikes out on its own almost immediately with a syrupy sweet pop melody and a chorus that simply begs you to sing along before dumping you into "Alive." "Alive" deserves to be on a Best of the '80s compilation. It sounds that authentic, and stands out on Head First for raw enjoyment. I want to take a moment to point out that on an initial listen of Head First, I had to check the liner notes multiple times to make sure they didn't change singers without telling me. This music simply sounds unlike anything Goldfrapp has done previously, and Alison is really pushing her instrument in new directions. She sounds wonderful, once you get past the first pangs of disbelief. "Dreaming" is a gem that spans 5 minutes of cool and sophisticated, yet minimalistic synthpop. Emphasizing my previous comment about '80s soundtracks, the album's title track seems like the type of song you'd hear playing at one of those prom moments when the guy finally kisses the girl. And "Hunt" would play during the opening credits of a horribly cheesy and low budget horror flick, where jagged words appear on screen with no preamble against a backdrop of pavement rolling by under the supervision of a car's headlights.

Alison slinks her way through "Shiny and Warm," a casual finger-snapping cousin of the Black Cherry era, complete with backup dancers. The vocal delivery on "Shiny and Warm" is attractively husky and slurred. This is a contrast to the bold and confident proclamation of "I wanna life!" in the track of the same name. The song has an upbeat and uplifting feel to it, despite how longing and desperate the lyrics are. Finishing up the album is "Voicething," which is a sour spot on an otherwise solid offering. "Voicething" sounds like what would happen if Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth wrote for Goldfrapp. Nearly 5 minutes pass through an electronica landscape of stacatto synths and rhythmically brief, intervalled vocal loops. The track is rather engaging, despite the stark difference it poses to the rest of Head First. Whether it is a glimpse of what's to come, or a lyric-free recognition of Goldfrapp's past, I can't say.

There's nothing trendsetting about Head First, which makes the name both unnecessary and somewhat fake. The glitzy presentation adequately serves as a representation of what you'll find inside. Like Alison's picture on the front, it is both attractive and transparent. Blink and you might find it is a passing cloud. That being said, Head First does have a slew of great pop moments that may live beyond the "honeymoon period" for most listeners. Time will tell the effect this album has on their career, but I find it to be the group's most consistently solid listen, ever. Still falling below the high points of both Black Cherry and Supernature, but consistently solid.

Released March 2010 on Mute Records.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the record label. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.