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Alison Goldfrapp started out as lead singer of various punk and goth bands including Demented Children and Waste Product while still at Alton College in Alton, Hampshire, England. It was while still at Middlesex University, Goldfrapp began to explore her creative abilities. She quickly gained a reputation as a creative talent with a highly distinctive voice, resulting in guest appearances on multiple albums while still at college. She performed on Orbital's album Snivilisation in 1994, and a year later did the same on her friend Tricky's debut album Maxinquaye before deciding to pursue a solo career of her own.
As Goldfrapp began to write her own music, her demos were passed on to film score composer Will Gregory by a few of her friends. Gregory had reached the point in his career where he wanted to stop working on minor projects and focus on something he could put his ideas and beliefs behind without feeling like he was compromising himself. After listening to Goldfrapp sing an early demo version of "Human", Gregory said, "This is someone I'd really like to meet. Wherever she is, I want to be there too - because I feel like I already am. I just felt that there was a connection there".NETQUOTEVAR:1 Gregory called Goldfrapp and invited her to record a demo for a film he was working on to see if they could work with each other. Although the demo was never finished, the recording session was a pleasant one and the two began to send mix tapes and demos back and forth to each other, as Gregory was living in Bath and Goldfrapp in London. In 1999 the two decided to form a duo, having the same musical tastes and interests, performing under Alison's last name. The same year they signed a major record deal with London based Mute Records.
Once Goldfrapp signed to Mute Records in 1999, the duo began recording their first album over a five-month period in a rented bungalow in the remote Wiltshire countryside. Titled Felt Mountain, the album was released in the autumn of 2000 and received an overwhelming positive reception from various music critics, with some providing comparisons to trip hop group Portishead. Felt Mountain was solely written and produced by Goldfrapp and Gregory; it features Alison's vocals, partly enhanced by synthesizers, set over a minimalistic, detached soundscape. The album was influenced by musical-styles such as 1980s synth pop, classical film scores and traditional folk music.
The first single "Lovely Head", a blend of classical cinematic composition and modern electronic music, was not a commercial success and it failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart. Two further singles were released from Felt Mountain, "Utopia" and "Human", in late 2000 and early 2001. Both were also well-received by critics; however, both were unable to reach the UK Top 75. In June 2001, "Utopia" was re-issued under the title "Utopia (Genetically Enriched)"; it became Goldfrapp's first to chart in the UK at number sixty-two. A final single "Pilots" was released from the album in late 2001, and it reached number sixty-eight in the UK.
Goldfrapp's success was not confined only to the UK. The duo achieved top forty status in Germany and managed to make waves in the United States with Time Out New York calling the album "one of the most accomplished albums we've ever heard" and Rolling Stone simply stating "awesome"
While promoting the album, Goldfrapp also became a live show favorite among fans and critics, selling out small concert venues in Europe, Canada and the United States. In 2001 the duo opened up for Australian rock musician Nick Cave and Manchester band Elbow. Live shows and high profile television appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in the US and Later with Jools Holland in the UK, introduced the band to a wider audience.
In 2001, Felt Mountain was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize, an award given to the best British or Irish album released over the past twelve months. Since its release the album has sold half a million copies worldwide and remains a fan and critical favorite. In 2002, Goldfrapp and Gregory spent most of their time in a recording studio in Bath writing and recording their follow-up to Felt Mountain. The two recorded and demoed everything they came up with, and used the dark atmosphere of the recording studio for inspiration. Goldfrapp even drew on the walls to find inspiration.NETQUOTEVAR:4 The band produced a different sound from what had appeared on their previous effort. Black Cherry, released in April 2003, had pronounced, groovy drum beats and a generally edgier, more hectic atmosphere. Similar to its predecessor, Black Cherry was a critical success with London-based newspaper The Guardian who called the album "an unexpected delight"NETQUOTEVAR:5 and About.com stating "it's the ultimate chillout pleasure".NETQUOTEVAR:6 Black Cherry was also a chart success, however, it only peaked at number nineteen in the UK and it has sold 257,000 copies since its release.NETQUOTEVAR:7
The album's lead single, "Train", released in April 2003, was a top thirty hit in the UK and was follow-up by the highly popular club hit, "Strict Machine" in July, peaking at number twenty-five in the UK. The song was re-issued in mid-2004 to more success, charting at number twenty in the UK. Elsewhere the song managed to achieve minimal success in Canada, charting at number thirty-three and in the US, peaking at number one on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Chart. Black Cherry's third and fourth singles, "Twist" and "Black Cherry", were also chart successes, reaching number thirty-one and twenty-eight in the UK.
A number of songs from the album were used in television commercials as a way for Goldfrapp's music to reach a further audience. "Strict Machine" and "Train" were used for the launch of the Game Boy Advance SP, "TipToe" for a Coca-Cola advert and "Twist" for a Gancia ad. "Strict Machine" was also used in a television ad for the fragrance "Night", by Armani. In 2004, following the successful tour in support of Black Cherry, a digital only EP was released under the name Wonderful Electric which featured four songs recorded live at Somerset House and Shepherds Bush Empire in 2003 and 2001. An accompanying DVD followed.
Goldfrapp's live shows became more extravagant after the release of Black Cherry, becoming a highly visual and energetic, displaying the sleazily sexual side of their new musical direction. In 2004 the band was the opening act for Duran Duran's reunion arena tour in the UK.
In 2003, Goldfrapp's website was awarded the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Website. The website has since been redesigned as a precursor to the release of Goldfrapp's third album in 2005. The following year the band also won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Dance Single for "Strict Machine".
Goldfrapp's third album Supernature was released in August 2005, and it carried the duo's sound further in the direction taken with Black Cherry. The album features many disco and glam rock influences such as Donna Summer and T. Rex. Like the duo's previous albums, Supernature received positive reviews from the critics (one stating Goldfrapp herself was the "perfect popstar"), and it was their first major commercial success and it sold over 50,000 copies in its first week sales in the UK, reaching number two on the albums chart. The album produced Goldfrapp's first top five single "Ooh La La", which received widespread airplay. It was also a dance club success, and it topped the UK and U.S. dance charts. It achieved minor success in Australia, where it reached number thirty-five. "Number 1", a love song based around a bass arrangement, was another top ten single; it also became Goldfrapp's first major North American success: "Number 1" reached number seven in Canada (where it topped the dance chart) and number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles Sales. The third single "Ride a White Horse" reached the UK top-twenty.
Goldfrapp performed sold-out shows at the Nokia Theater in New York City on December 5, 2005 and the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles on March 11, 2006, which have been their biggest North American appearances to date. They also appeared on the U.S. variety programs The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on March 13, 2006 and The Late Show with David Letterman on May 17, 2006. The licensing community continued to develop an interest in "Ooh La La", which made an appearance in a Diet Coke advertisement. "Ooh La La" also received considerable airtime on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) during the month of June, 2006 as a re-worked video which featured clips of leading ladies from Hollywood's Golden Age. Some of the songs from Supernature were also featured on television programs such as Bones, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, and The Sopranos. "Ride a White Horse" is expected to make its debut on the Canadian Singles Chart in July 2006. Goldfrapp is to perform "Satin Chic" on "Last Call with Carson Daily" on July 17th.
"Fly Me Away" was released as Supernature's fourth single, and it charted at number twenty-six in the United Kingdom.
It has been rumored that Goldfrapp has been signed to perform the theme song for the upcoming James Bond film, Casino Royale, and the band reportedly indicated same at a recent concert. NETQUOTEVAR:8 David Arnold, the film's lead composer, has declared this report "a hoax" and says Goldfrapp has not been signed to do the theme. According to Arnold, the rumor regarding Goldfrapp originated with a widely-circulated fan-made poster for the film that gave credit to Goldfrapp for the theme. NETQUOTEVAR:9
According to a e-mail sent out by Goldfrapp's official website, the band will release a limited edition 7" picture disc titled Satin Boys, Flaming Chic on September 4th. The A-side will feature a brand new remix of the track "Satin Chic" by The Flaming Lips, while the B-side will include Goldfrapp's cover of "Boys Will Be Boys". The tracks will also be available for digital download.
In return, Goldfrapp have remixed The Flaming Lips track "The W.A.N.D", which will be released on July 17th.
