Goldfrapp - Escape to 'Felt Mountain'

****1/2

Goldfrapp celebrates the 20th anniversary of 'Felt Mountain'!!!

Goldfrapp **** 1/2 dazzled the audience at the final date of their tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut 'Felt Mountain'. The tour took the band across England and Scotland, culminating in two magnificent nights at Southbank Centre's Royal Festival Hall. The excitement of longtime fans was palpable upon entering the venue, a whistled rendition of Goldfrapp's 2000 single 'Lovely Head' could be heard immediately followed by compliments from others for the impromptu performance.

Support for the tour came from Alison Sudol, though you'll recognise her as Queenie Goldstein from the 'Fantastic Beasts' films, Ms. Sudol is also an accomplished musician. Her work has been featured across TV and film, and tonight she is performing in support of her fourth studio album. Due to be released this fall, Ms. Sudol describes the new album as "...different colours of loss and grief, as well as joy". 'Peaches', Ms. Sudol's latest single, is pure joy. She dances barefoot at the front of the stage, in celebration of her daughter and new motherhood. It is the perfect introduction to a very special night.

Later the audience begins cheering before Goldfrapp even enters the stage, Alison Goldfrapp then glides on, wearing a floor length black cape and singing 'Felt Mountain's' title track. She looks like an evil queen but sounds like heaven on earth. The back of the stage is illuminated like the night sky, this is the escape from reality we have all desperately needed. The show begins with a dreamy selection of songs from 'Felt Mountain', performed by Alison Goldfrapp and eight band members, including the Q strings ensemble. Throughout the show, a second microphone is used for creating the band's signature vocal effects.

The band also performed songs from their albums 'Black Cherry' (2003), 'Supernature' (2005), 'Seventh Tree' (2008), and 'Silver Eye' (2017). Speaking of the song 'Moon in your Mouth', her favourite track from 'Silver Eye', Alison described it as "An ode to life, desire, and anyone that's left the World too soon". The show was also over too soon, and as the audience rose for a standing ovation... the band left the stage briefly before returning and launching into 'Ride a white Horse'. Cue two thousand five hundred people, already on their feet... dancing as if the last two years never happened.

'Strict Machine' shortly followed, with strobe lights expertly boosting the song's chorus and Alison Goldfrapp's dancing. The show ended with a second encore, a blistering arrangement of the 2003 hit, Train. As if the frenetic lighting and dancing weren't enough, the performance also featured a keytar. The audience's cheering continued until the lights were turned on and everyone was kicked out, and we are left wanting more.
 
Review and photos by Sasha

 
Goldfrapp - Setlist
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Felt Mountain
Paper Bag
Pilots
Deer Stop
Human
Hairy Trees
Road to Somewhere
Eat Yourself
Moon in your Mouth
You never Know
Black Cherry
Utopia
Lovely Head
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Ride a white Horse
Strict Machine
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Train

Check Out! the Video for 'Strict Machine' Below...