A double-whammy of two similar, yet-very-different live shows in London, "Wonderful Electric" charts Alison Goldfrapp's journey from virtually unknown backing singer through to her position on the cusp of left-field international pop stardom.
The first DVD (from Shepherd's Bush Empire in 2001) captures GOLDFRAPP in the wake of their critically-acclaimed debut album "Felt Mountain" and finds the band in suitably moodily-backlit, theatre-packing form. At this stage, their stage presence is still rather minimal, with Alison playing the rather lonely blonde seductress up front. Aside from flitting between her three vocoder mikes, she does little and the band simply get on with the job. Indeed, for kook factor, Alison is upstaged by her violinist Davide Rossi, whose bizarre alpine hunting outfit almost steals the show.
Musically, though, it's already very much in place. The set includes classic stuff from "Felt Mountain" like the post-Portishead sci-fi/drama pop of "Human" and the the chilly dislocated hymnal that is "Utopia", though even these are bettered by the noir-ish John Barry-style shadowboxing of "Lovely Head" and a stripped-to-the-marrow take of Olivia Newton John's "Physical" which is virtually unrecognisable save for the chorus. And it's got a melodica solo from Alison. Wa-hey!
It's a good solid set, with the ethereality making up for the occasionally wooden stage presence, but the fireworks really start with the second DVD filmed at a triumphant London show in July 2003 in the stunning courtyard surroundings of Somerset House.
This time, the band are bathed in their evocative 'twinkling stars' backdrop and are armed with the best, suggestive electro-glam moments from the excellent second album "Black Cherry". By now, Alison is far more confident and makes a fine job of being the centre of attention in her PVC-booted kinky- headmistress-meets-21st Century-Andrews-Sister garb. Indeed, despite stern competition from Rossi with his flowing robe-cum-toga get-up, no-one's gonna steal Alison's thunder this time round.
And so it proves as the beautifully-paced set unfolds with the semi-whispered, tremulous seduction of "Deep Honey." By this time, the live band has swelled to include bassist Charlie Jones, which is surely a good thing, as he adds some excellent funky lunges during the viscerally suggestive electro-thrust of songs like "Train" and "Twist." "Strict Machine", meanwhile, ups the rumbling electro-Glitter Band boogie to a dangerous degree and their cover of long-forgotten Euro-disco girls Baccara's "Yes Sir I Can Boogie" gets an overhaul as radical as the Newton-John tune. In Goldfrapp's depraved hands, it's vacant, blank and minimal, with Alison getting downright filthy with a theremin towards the end. If you've got the vicar round for a slice of hash cake, you might want to divert his attention at this point.
|
Brilliantly, they keep "Black Cherry" itself in reserve for the last word and here it sounds like a deep, post-coital sigh and a sublime, anthemic full-stop as the band and crowd alike are showered with glitter at its' conclusion. It's a great way to finish a memorable, celebratory night and demonstrates just how high Goldfrapp's stock has risen in three short years.
The two bonus documentaries are mildly disappointing, especially the "Trip To Felt Mountain", which is just the occasional ethereal bit of commentary by Alison over selected samples of songs from the album and is all very ho-hum. "Twisted Summer" revisits the making of "Black Cherry" and is an improvement as it does actually have a fair stab at interviewing Alison and her reclusive songwriting partner Will Gregory properly. Both are likeable, if rather kooky. Will plays the wry and genial studio-bound genius and Alison veers between distracted and ethereal and Mumsy in an "alright dear?" kind've way. They're an odd combination of personalities, but they work well together and perhaps they shouldn't be analysed too much. This is diverting enough as a bonus, but you'll find far more to hold your attention when you lie back and simply wallow in the concert footage.
It's now well over a year since the Somerset House gig and Goldfrapp have been quiet for most of 2004. The quantum leap they made between albums one and two suggests we could well be in for a treat when that legendary 'difficult' album finally rolls around, but until then "Wonderful Electric" is a diverting and frequently euphoric visual record of their futuristic pop prowess thus far.
|
