Got a message from Michelle the other day; words to the effect of "have you listened to the new Goldfrapp yet? It's exquisite"; wouldn't go that far myself, but I can see where she was coming from. Seventh Tree is the band's most pastoral and soupily dreamy to date, from airily disconnected opener "Clowns" through the succession of downbeat electro-ballads and wispy sketches which follow (I especially like "Cologne Cerrone Houdini" / "Caravan Girl" near the end), and there's much to relish about it.
Felt Mountain, Black Cherry and Supernature collectively set an impossibly high bar, and I think that Seventh Tree falls slightly short of those other three - but it's still a worthy addition to the discography and another jewelled link in the increasingly glittering Goldfrapp chain.
Now, bring on the new Portishead!
