Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain Live 2022

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Posted 2021-03-21 by David Keyworth ⇒ follow

Thu 31 Mar 2022 - Fri 15 Apr 2022

In 2020 Goldfrapp were looking forward to marking the twentieth anniversary of the release of their enchanting debut - Felt Mountain.

Inevitably, in March last year, the duo took the "very sad but essential decision" to reschedule to 2021.

Now, due to the stubbornness of COVID-19, the Felt Mountain tour has been rearranged again, to spring 2022. But with extra shows in Bath and Cambridge and Nottingham (dates below). "All previously purchased tickets remain valid."

Reflecting, two years ago, Alison Goldfrapp said: "I listened to the entire album again recently - something I don't really ever do - and it was a surprisingly emotional experience. The songs instantly take me back. The album is still relevant two decades on, and hopefully will be interesting for people to rediscover and maybe also hear for the first time."

She added: "Dystopian lyrics such as "I'm wired to the world, that's how I know everything" from 'Utopia', and "no time to F***" from 'Paper Bag', have become more potent. I was intrigued then by the flawed concept of perfection which has become so much more intensified in our self-reflective social media era."

Will Gregory and Alison formed Goldfrapp in 1999 and began their musical collaboration in a cottage on a Wiltshire hillside."It was disgusting, moths everywhere. You could hear the mice scuttling across the roof."" Alison told The Guardian and Dave Simpson in 2011.

Released in September 2000, Felt Mountain reached number 57 in the UK charts. It was shortlisted for the 2001 Mercury Music Prize.

The citation, quoted in the inner sleeve of the 2001 Mercury Prize CD, says "This could be music for an imagined European film ... icy, mesmerising and nicely unsettling."

Continuing the theme, Matt LeMay, writing for Pitchfork said: "If Austin Powers had been a film noir flick, its soundtrack would probably sound something like Felt Mountain."

Nominated along with Goldfrapp were Basement Jaxx, Elbow, Radiohead, Super Furry Animals, Zero 7 amongst others. The winner was PJ Harvey for Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea.

In 2017 Goldfrapp embarked on an eight-date UK tour to promote their seventh studio album - Silver Eye. The tour was cut short by Alison being hit by an illness which happily she recovered from. Silver Eye is still, to date, their most recent studio album.

Felt Mountain is comprised of nine tracks:

Lovely Head – Opens with some first class whistling and continues with teasing allusions to oral sex. 'Why can't this be killing you?' Alison asks in a voice that is both seductive and sinister. It ends with an enchanting key change and the thought that: 'Frankenstein would want your mind, your lovely head' . . . . . and more whistling.

Paper Bag – features a Baritone Ukulele and paints an evocative picture of 'When the world stops for snow.'

Human – has more of a jazz soundscape with its use of percussion, trumpet and saxophone. It was sampled by Kanye West for his track Freestyle 4.

Pilots - with its string ensemble, the track has a lush feel which evokes a superior Bond theme tune. 'Armoured cars sail the sky.'

Deer Stop - If Erik Satie had written pop songs, this is the kind of thing he would have written.

Felt Mountain – the title track is an instrumental with Alison's vocal being one of the instruments. Da da da da dee dee, she riffs, or at least something along those lines.

Oompa Radar - has a kind of circus Wurlitzer feel but it also has the foreboding atmosphere of Brecht-Weill 1920s number It was apparently inspired by Roman Polanski's film Cul-de-sac.. It is another one with a vocal but no lyrics

Utopia – is one of the album's catchiest tracks but undermines its apparent cheery synth-pop feel with references to 'Fascist Baby.' What kind of utopia is this?

Horse Tears - tells us that 'Night is falling mute and cold'. Its brooding menace and melancholy - which characterises the whole album - would have suited Marlene Dietrich.

March/April 2022

Thu 31 March - Oxford, O2 Academy

Sat 2 April - Gateshead, Sage

Mon 4 April - Nottingham, Royal Concert Hall - NEW DATE

Tue 5 April - Bath, Forum - NEW DATE

Thu 7 April - Edinburgh, Usher Hall

Fri 8 April - Manchester, Albert Hall - SOLD OUT

Sun 10 April - Bexhill-On-Sea, De La Warr Pavilion

Mon 11 April - Cambridge, Corn Exchange - NEW DATE

Wed 13 April - Birmingham, Symphony Hall

Thu 14 April - London, Royal Festival Hall - SOLD OUT

Fri 15 April - London, Royal Festival Hall

For tickets