Goldfrapp's debut album, released on September 11th, 2000. The album went kinda low-key on the charts but is considered to be a cult classic of sorts.

 

The critics praised the album, and honestly, I wish this was more talked about these days at least when it comes to them.

It's very bold and innovative for its time, I would dare to say that it would pass off as such even today. Very atmospheric, creepy, classy, and just stunning; in the right setting this transports me into a dark and cold night in say Viennca cca 1935-1940. I never heard something quite like it, but would love to. Needless to say, this sounds even better when high.

 

I don't think this is a particularly easy listen for casual pop fans tho so it's not very likely to get a TikTok hit out of nowhere either. Pilots and Utopia are the most GP-friendly songs I guess, just not... that friendly? My faves are Deer Stop, Lovely Head, Utopia, and Human, but all are stellar really.

 

What do you think, did this masterpiece deserve better and what can we do so that justice can eventually be served?

Edited June 7, 20242 yr by Le Grande

Ugh, this is still my fave album by them. I love most of the music they put out after it, but nothing really hit that magic sweetspot like this one did for me. Thanks for bringing it back for appreciation!

"Supernature" will always be my favourite by them but there is no denying the charms of "Felt Mountain".

Idk if I would say it's innovative? It's very much that trip hop sound that was popular in the late 90s. Nevertheless, it's a great album.

One of my favorite albums 

@HonourableVomit

39 minutes ago, Lachlan said:

Idk if I would say it's innovative? It's very much that trip hop sound that was popular in the late 90s. Nevertheless, it's a great album.

Yeah it's like if Portishead were doing Bond themes, with a little Bjork influence too. But those are all incredible references already, so with Alison (flawless talented mother etc) at the helm it's even more stunning than it sounds on paper. 

 

I don't think she's ever missed although Seventh Tree is a little inessential. Felt Mountain is definitely a cult classic

This is a legit masterpiece. I've been getting into goldfrapps discog lately and have been blown away.

 

I love how felt mountain (title track) is a lyricless ditty

 

Also cut to me being shook when I recognized the strings in human to have been sampled on the life of Pablo 🫨🤯

 

Black cherry is also threadworthy

masterpiece methinks 

This could easily be soundtracks of a horror movie. Lovely head.. ......deer stop... horse tears. Scary

a classic yup yup

15 hours ago, Ponzi said:

Ugh, this is still my fave album by them. I love most of the music they put out after it, but nothing really hit that magic sweetspot like this one did for me. Thanks for bringing it back for appreciation!

It's the first album that comes to my mind when I see those "best album of all time" questions/threads/articles. I've recommended this album to a few people and it was too depressing for them and I can see this, but the execution is just so stunningly beautiful and the sound is rich and cinematic that it paints a much larger picture than that, well for me at least.

 

Regarding Goldfrapp tho, IMHO Felt Mountain-Black Cherry-Supernature-Seventh Tree (happier FM?) is perhaps the best album run of the 00s and they really showcased versatility like very few acts. I thought they could do no wrong, but then Head First came and it was just so... bad! Kinda glad they disowned it too later on. I haven't heard anything since, but love to revisit the albums mentioned. 

 

13 hours ago, HonourableVomit said:

Yeah it's like if Portishead were doing Bond themes, with a little Bjork influence too. But those are all incredible references already, so with Alison (flawless talented mother etc) at the helm it's even more stunning than it sounds on paper. 

 

I don't think she's ever missed although Seventh Tree is a little inessential. Felt Mountain is definitely a cult classic

Well... I do agree with this now that I think about it, but if not innovative I'd say it's a very thought-provoking record at the very least. 

3 hours ago, Le Grande said:

It's the first album that comes to my mind when I see those "best album of all time" questions/threads/articles. I've recommended this album to a few people and it was too depressing for them and I can see this, but the execution is just so stunningly beautiful and the sound is rich and cinematic that it paints a much larger picture than that, well for me at least.

 

Regarding Goldfrapp tho, IMHO Felt Mountain-Black Cherry-Supernature-Seventh Tree (happier FM?) is perhaps the best album run of the 00s and they really showcased versatility like very few acts. I thought they could do no wrong, but then Head First came and it was just so... bad! Kinda glad they disowned it too later on. I haven't heard anything since, but love to revisit the albums mentioned. 

 

Well... I do agree with this now that I think about it, but if not innovative I'd say it's a very thought-provoking record at the very least. 

It's incredibly cinematic, and it has a dreamlike quality to it. I guess that's where the 'depressing' comment comes from, but you know... the best music around is not usually mindless bops lol. Black Cherry and Supernature are full of bops though, but they're slick and the productions are really intricate, that's when they're reminiscent of Felt Mountain. Seventh Tree is ok.

I enjoy Head First for what it is—just a cute lil' pop record. It's a cute next to gorgeous situation. Everything that came after, I haven't paid that much attention to tbh... but I loved Alison's solo record. 

An avant garde masterpiece 

10 hours ago, Le Grande said:

but then Head First came and it was just so... bad!

 

 

 

not when it has career-best bops Rocket, Believer, Head First, Dreaming. 

an ethereal masterpiece - such a bold way to make a debut

 

i feel like its influences are very clear, but Alison and Will really went about it in such a way that the result still feels very distinctly its own thing. like the album manages to never feel derivative 

I feel like this has aged the best out of Goldfrapp’s discography, and I keep returning to it often. Obviously Utopia (Genetically Enriched) is a masterpiece but I also love Lovely Head and Oompah Radar. 

6 hours ago, Ponzi said:

It's incredibly cinematic, and it has a dreamlike quality to it. I guess that's where the 'depressing' comment comes from, but you know... the best music around is not usually mindless bops lol. Black Cherry and Supernature are full of bops though, but they're slick and the productions are really intricate, that's when they're reminiscent of Felt Mountain. Seventh Tree is ok.

I enjoy Head First for what it is—just a cute lil' pop record. It's a cute next to gorgeous situation. Everything that came after, I haven't paid that much attention to tbh... but I loved Alison's solo record. 

Tales of Us is an amazing listen, came right after Head First and has some of their best songs. Drew and Thea are fantastic 

I loooove Pilots (on a star) and the "cinematic" aspect of the alberm, it really puts you on a mood. Utopia remains one of their finest sings, a solid top 10.

11 hours ago, khalyan said:

Tales of Us is an amazing listen, came right after Head First and has some of their best songs. Drew and Thea are fantastic 

I've only listened to Tales of Us once and it was ages ago. I'll gladly give it another spin since it seems to be more on the FM side of Goldfrapp. 

They do not have bad albums. Every album is different and special in its own way

Edited June 9, 20242 yr by CherryBay

On 6/8/2024 at 9:41 PM, khalyan said:

Tales of Us is an amazing listen, came right after Head First and has some of their best songs. Drew and Thea are fantastic 

Okay! So Drew is actually fantastic. Very Felt Mountain-coded with the melodies and the vocals but the guitar adds something new. It's not as cinematic but it definitely has that dreamlike quality to it.

I'll try to listen to the rest of the album today. I'm still on a BRAT high and I don't think they'd synergize well lol.

 

Why is no one posting "Human"