Customer Reviews

Black Cherry

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Alison Goldfrapp is one of the female vocalists who is truly unique, whos music truly cannot be categorized into the generalizations called "Genres". In a world of the publicized antics of Britney Spears and her fellow expositionist/classless peers, Alison Goldfrapp stands out as a combinations of both culture and intelligence, as Rob Dougan and the Hartnoll brothers of Orbital in their prime did.
The first two tracks, "Crystalline Green" and "Train" combine the impact of sythesized beats with the voice of Alison Goldfrapp, which can be described as a deeper, younger madonna with more range and the ability to use it to its fullest.
The song "Black Cherry" is softer, almost like a lullaby, where fans of Orbital will recognize the almost hypnotic voice that was present in their album "Snivelisation".
"Tiptoe", although reminiscent of the soundtrack to dirty films in more than one part, is listenable, not because of the references that it brings, but because of its overall congruency, which is missing in almost every modern artist's music.
"Deep Honey" and "Hairy Trees", like "Black Cherry" are backed with a less imtense sythesized harmonys, and again, display Alison Goldfrapp's hauntingly attractive voice to its fullest extent.
"Twist" and "Strict Machine" are, in my opinion, the best tracks on the album and are pprobably the catchy work that Goldfrapp has done to date. They are "feel good" songs with references to the Risque, the suggestive.
The last two songs on the album, "Forever" and "Slippage" are more ambient, the latter having almost no sung "words" in it. Although they are different from the other songs on the album they fit in terms of the suggestion and energy that they have.
Altogether a good album that fans of the musical groups that alison has collaborated with will enjoy, as well as people who are interested in high impact electronica that is not tooo repetitive.

THis album is a nice counterbalance to Felt Mountain, introducing Goldfrapp's first efforts at electric caberet style music. THis shows great prmise as an artist, as it shows that Goldfrapp is capable of trying something new to avoid releasing album after album of the same old thing that other artists that do similar music have fallen prey to (Such as Lamb).

Definately worth a shot if you like Strict Machine. If you're repulsed by something you should dance dirty to, then stick with Felt Mountain.

Highlights on this CD include Black Cherry, Train, Twist and Strict Machine. This is yet another example of how Europe is so much more advanced when it comes to musical taste. Goldfrapp turns to more electronic sounds and 80s beats on this CD, compared to the enchanting sounds of "Felt Mountain." Nice collection of songs. This CD is edgy without the invariable cheesiness of artists like Peaches.

There are already well written, articulate reviews here so I'll just say that Black Cherry grew to become my favorite of the two Goldfrapp albums. In fact, I made "an emergency" copy to keep in the office, for "difficult times"... Deliciously kinky and decadent (LA style) it always brings a smile to my face, all the more so since I've recently been to LA (1st time in America!) and absolutely LOVED it. Not much of a review, this, but I just couldn't resist expressing my delight and I note I'm not the only one to do so...

This is one of the best CD's I own. If you must compare it to Felt Mountain then think of it as a comparrison between sex on bottom and sex on top, both are great. I don't even want to try and over-think this album because the sheer joy lof listening to something so powerfully transportational cannot be eclisped by fumbling analysis. Listen, just buy the record and if you want you can name your first-born after me as a small way of saying thanks fer the heads up.

Experimental ElectrobeatZ meetZ wonderful and nature talented Voice. She definetely needs no vocal coach. "Train" is a lil bit 70s glam-influenced and "Strict machine" can be a dancefloorfiller. "Black cherry" is such an great album, I love it! To see "Goldfrapp" live is also very interesting to watch.

I don't think it's possible for this CD's blend of techno, trip-hop, orchestral backgrounds and breathy lyrics to sound any more beautiful. I listened to "Felt Mountain" a while ago and maybe one or two songs caught my attention, but not enough to purchase the CD. I enjoy the synth-pop, trance-like sounding techno on "Black Cherry" infinitely more than the choice of music on Goldfrapp's previous album.

Just the other day I was admiring the music in the background of the new COKE commercial with Kate Beckingsale by the pool...imagine my surprise when I buy the CD and find the very song is #4- Tiptoe!

Some favorites (and it was hard to choose)are: #2-"Train" #3-"Black Cherry" #4-"Tiptoe" and last, the song that prompted me to buy the CD in the first place (It's on a compilation CD called "Ultra Chilled") #6-"Hairy Trees". The fast songs, for example, "Train" and "Twist" are extremely upbeat and undeniably sexy while the slower ones- "Black Cherry", "Hairy Trees", and "Forever"- have an enticing, sensual, mind-drugging effect which gives you chills.

Now when I go back and listen to "Black Cherry" for the hundredth upon hundredth time- I'll find a new favorite! This CD by Goldfrapp is simply amazing!

My encounter with Goldfrapp is somewhat strange. I knew who they were from around the time they released their second album "Black Cherry" in April 2003. I had never actually heard one of their songs, however, and all I had to go on was hype. I put them to the back of my mind, but in the Christmas sales at the end of the year I saw this album on sale in WH Smith for £1.99! Yes, £1.99! I instantly picked up a copy and so did my mate and we bought it straight away, without ever having heard any of their music. I knew I was taking a gamble, but for £1.99, wouldn't you?! Even if I didn't like it I could always say I had a 'cool' CD in my collection...

I'm happy to report, therefore, that I didn't have to say this because Black Cherry is a simply amazing album that deserves more praise than it has received. I don't own 2000's "Felt Mountain," but I've heard it's good (maybe one day I'll buy it), but I'm currently too occupied with this album! Lead singer Alison Goldfrapp is a saucy and slinky dance-diva goddess of seduction who wraps her beautifully erotic vocals around the sexually-charged and smouldering lyrics of desire and passion. Will Gregory is on hand for synths and creates some of the most fantastically creative, albeit weird, blips and beeps that I've heard in a long time!

The album opens with "Crystalline Green." Opening softly and tightly with Alison's stop-start vocals, the song works its way up to bigger things and the last two minutes are really atmospheric with sighing and wide-open-spaces kind of music that drifts through space. "Train" converts this swiftly and soon enters a hard-hitting and relentless dance beat with a buzzing industrial noise that wedges firmly into your brain. Alison's vocals are seductive and filthy yet still remain classy - a fantastic album standout. "Black Cherry," the album's title track slows things down for a while with soft and almost theatre-like production. The beat is tight and claustrophobic with a great soft silent lullaby synth in the background. It's very hard to describe, but this is an amazing chill-out song for anyone to relax to.

"Tiptoe" is a very camp number, serving up chunky slices of electronica-beats with some dramatic lyrics which are very limited: "You feel good, you feel right. You're so good. Tiptoe over me. Nah-nah-nah. Tears start over," and that's about it for the whole song! The focus here is mainly on the beats and the weird techno-wizardry, especially towards the end. "Deep Honey" is absolutely amazing with its hypnotic and intoxicating beat that throbs and reverberates all over the set. The atmosphere created is soft and calm, but almost intimidating and ominous. "Hairy Trees" is probably the best song on the album because I feel it has an amazing life span where you could just listen to it for years and not get bored. The beat is dripped in love and so deep and thick with passion. What is created is something so beautiful that I'm finding it hard to describe because it's so dreamy and heavenly. I best leave it at that!

"Twist" changes the pace of the album by bringing in dirty lyrics and sexual undertones: "Put your dirty angel face between my legs and knicker lace." This is a big departure for the band, and although it's great, it's not quite as stunning as the past two songs. "Strict Machine" is the album's lead single and has been on TV commercials all over Europe! The beat is really driven and the lyrics are so head-spinningly loved-up that you cannot help but dance! "Forever" returns to the soft and atmospheric music that appears in the middle of this album, and for which I like them best. "Slippage" closes the album and has a dark and dragging bass that features underneath the main body of the song, giving it a dramatic and almost spooky sound - imagine playing any of the first few Tomb Raider games and you'll see what I mean!

OVERALL GRADE: 9/10

In my opinion Black Cherry is definitely an album that everyone should own because it's different and unique to anything else (mainstream) out there. Goldfrapp have brought it to the masses and for this we should be grateful! A third album will tell us if this band have real staying power in the industry, but if it's anything like this album, they have nothing to worry about! This is the cheapest CD I've bought in years, and it just so happens to be one of the best! With their atmospheric and beautifully crafted songs mixed with sexually-charged lyrics and seductive vocals, Goldfrapp stand out from the crowd as the prime example of a band that is Uber-cool! This album serves as a dance-floor filler and a chill-out classic simultaneously. I prefer the chill-out personally, but you should buy this whichever one you prefer! Highly recommended!

I remember discovering Felt Mountain on an amazon.com listmania list, and eagerly buying it. And I remember listening to it, still being blown away after the 100th time, and wondering, "How can they possibly top this?"

Imagine my surprise when I played the preview clips for Black Cherry! I must admit at first I was furious, fearing that Alison had sold out and become another dance-pop has-been, but I read some reviews, thought a while, listened to the clips again, and decided, "Well, it's still Goldfrapp, let's give it a whirl." Now that I've heard it in its entirety, I can appreciate Black Cherry.

Granted, it's not as good as Goldfrapp's debut (but really...any artist who can produce one record like that in their career can hang their coat up), but it's growing on me. Discarding the heavy 40's cabaret atmosphere she was known for, Alison Goldfrapp is immersed in layers of electronic (some deliberately kitschy) blips and beeps. Listening carefully, I could detect hints of Felt Mountain and figured that this was just another side of Goldfrapp we haven't seen before. I won't review each song individually, because other reviews have done that already, but I have to say that "Hairy Trees" is by far the best song on the entire album. The layering of Goldfrapp's voice, the timeless beats (they're neither the moody 40's or brassy 80's style, but rather timeless and otherworldly), everything about the song just fits to make this a high point.

As I close this review, I have to remind everyone who refuses to accept this album: remember when Radiohead released Kid A, and the controversy surrounding that? When an artist releases a perfect album, they can attempt to recreate the same thing, risking failure but sometimes pulling it off (see: Bjork and Portishead), or they can veer out into left field and try something new, also risking failure. And I have great respect for any artist who can successfully pull it off, and Goldfrapp is no exception.

I am surprised with all the gloating reviews here.

Goldfrapp's by-now-characteristic electronica sound combinations are initially impressive, especially because they accompany some very dreamy vocals and crunchy rhythms unlike other "trance" music out there, but on Black Cherry they seem to offer little reward for repeat listens.

This album is definitely geared more towards a faster crowd with at least six numbers in the groove mode. I particularly liked the relentless thumps of "Train", and the trip-hippy bliss of "Hairy Trees". Overall, the album makes for an exciting, pacy compilation.

But this also means that all too often the synthetics are freeze-dried, and there're no hidden depths or secret details that one discovers over repeated listens. The songs sound blander each time round.

Overall, I'd say it's a pretty decent purchase, but don't expect to be going back to it a lot. Excellent perhaps for background music while driving if you need to keep yourself awake.