Black Cherry | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 23 April 2003 | |||
Recorded | 2002 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | ||||
Length | 42:57 | |||
Label | Mute | |||
Producer | ||||
Goldfrapp chronology | ||||
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Singles from Black Cherry | ||||
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Black Cherry is the second studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released on 23 April 2003 by Mute Records. It marked a departure from the ambient sound of their debut album, Felt Mountain (2000), incorporating glam rock and synth-pop music; inspirations were Spanish disco group Baccara and Swedish techno artist Håkan Lidbo. The album was met with positive reviews, with many critics complimenting its blend of retro and modern electropop music.
The album debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). As of May 2005, it had sold nearly 500,000 copies worldwide. Black Cherry yielded four singles, including "Strict Machine", which reached number 20 on the UK Singles Chart. It earned the band a nomination for Best British Dance Act at the 2004 Brit Awards. The album was supported by the Black Cherry Tour (2003–2004).
The duo wrote three songs while touring in support of their debut album Felt Mountain , but decided to take their work in a different direction with more rhythmic music. [6] Goldfrapp chose to record in a studio in a Bohemian area of Bath, England, because they needed a place to place their equipment and start working. [7] [8] The band began working on the album in January 2002 with a list of songs they wanted to try to record, such as a disco song with only string instruments. [9] The studio's walls were covered in neon lights and Alison Goldfrapp used them to write down her song ideas. [10] They recorded early demos and worked on pre-production using a Yamaha 02R digital mixing console. Goldfrapp held jam sessions with Mark Linkous and Adrian Utley and, after they built momentum writing the album, decided not to move to another studio. [8] [9]
The album cover is a collage made by Mat Maitland of photographs taken by Polly Borland featuring Alison with two wolves. [11] Artwork in the liner notes also has a wolf motif, including women with wolf heads. Goldfrapp explained that the wolves are a representation of might and mysticism and that she was "interested in the idea of metamorphosis and humans wanting to be like animals and animals wanting to be like humans." [12]
After touring in support of Felt Mountain, Alison stated that she felt performing slow torch songs "really claustrophobic". [6] During their jam sessions, improvisation became a major part of the group's approach to recording Black Cherry. [9] The album focuses more heavily on dance music and glam rock-inspired synthesisers than its predecessor, [13] and is influenced by Spanish disco group Baccara and Swedish techno artist Håkan Lidbo. [10] Goldfrapp commented that the album differs from Felt Mountain because the band "wanted to put more kind of 'oomph' in it." [14] She stated that the lyrics are "a lot more direct and…less ambiguous." [15] The songs on Black Cherry are more forthright in describing sexuality than those on Felt Mountain. [13]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 72/100 [16] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [17] |
Blender | [18] |
Entertainment Weekly | C [19] |
The Guardian | [20] |
Mojo | [21] |
Pitchfork | 5.8/10 [22] |
Q | [23] |
Rolling Stone | [24] |
Spin | B [25] |
Uncut | [26] |
Black Cherry received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 72, based on 22 reviews. [16] Uncut praised the change in the duo's musical direction, concluding, "I doubt there'll be many better albums released this year." [26] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian called the album "laudable, challenging and immensely enjoyable". [20] Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine opined, "Whether it be soothing techno-ballads [...] or custom-made clubs tracks [...], Goldfrapp know how to draw you in and, more importantly, hook you." [27] Rolling Stone 's Pat Blashill noted that "[t]ons of bands imitate the sounds of the early Eighties, but Goldfrapp use New Wave as a way to evoke a long history of shiny Euro-lounge music." [24] Spin commented that on Black Cherry, the duo "downplay the 'cinematic' strings in favor of buzzing live-wire synths. And singer Alison Goldfrapp still wails like Kate Bush haunting a fog-soaked moor." [25] Mojo praised the album as "lucid and ambiguous... beautifully schizophrenic and poised on the edge of ruin". [21]
Dorian Lynskey of Blender wrote, "Although a few tracks retain Felt Mountain's eerie beauty, Black Cherry's natural habitat is less supper club than strip club, and Goldfrapp sound right at home." [18] Andy Hermann of PopMatters viewed Black Cherry as "a weird, edgy album, the work of two doggedly maverick talents chasing their muses wherever they take them". [13] Wes May of About.com dubbed it a "rare electronica album of warmth and depth" and "the ultimate chillout pleasure". [1] Drowned in Sound 's Gen Williams expressed that the album's "crystalline, neon-edged beauty, its pulsing army of beats and Alison's lush, lethargically versatile vocals, swinging between sultry and seraphic throughout, make it—for now at least—a largely satisfying record that indicates imminent and deserved success for Goldfrapp." [28] Q deemed the album "thoroughly likeable" despite its "inconsistency". [23] In a mixed review, Heather Phares of AllMusic commended Goldfrapp for their "artistic risk-taking", but felt that the album "sounds unbalanced, swinging between delicate, deceptively icy ballads and heavier, dance-inspired numbers without finding much of a happy medium between them." [17] Michael Idov of Pitchfork criticised the duo's switch to electro music, while describing Black Cherry as "a soundtrack to excruciatingly banal seduction". [22] Jonah Weiner of Entertainment Weekly panned the album's slower tracks as "boring dirges and space-age Muzak". [19]
PopMatters included the album on its list of the Top 50 Albums of 2003, ranking it at number 46. [29] It was listed at number 33 on Drowned in Sound's list of the Top 75 Albums of 2003. [30] Black Cherry earned Goldfrapp a nomination for Best British Dance Act at the 2004 Brit Awards, but they lost to Basement Jaxx. [31]
Black Cherry debuted at number 19 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 14,859 copies in its first week. [32] The album had sold 256,703 copies in the United Kingdom as of August 2005. [32] Later that month, on 26 August 2005, Black Cherry was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 300,000 copies in the UK. [33] The album reached the top 30 in Germany, Ireland, Norway and Portugal, and the top 50 in Belgium, France and Switzerland. [34] [35]
Black Cherry became Goldfrapp's first album to chart in the United States, reaching number four on the Top Electronic Albums chart and number 27 on the Top Independent Albums chart. [36] [37] By August 2006, it had sold 52,000 copies in the US. [38] The album had sold nearly 500,000 copies worldwide as of May 2005. [39]
All tracks are written by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Crystalline Green" | 4:28 | |
2. | "Train" | 4:11 | |
3. | "Black Cherry" | 4:56 | |
4. | "Tiptoe" | 5:10 | |
5. | "Deep Honey" | 4:01 | |
6. | "Hairy Trees" | 4:37 | |
7. | "Twist" | 3:32 | |
8. | "Strict Machine" |
| 3:51 |
9. | "Forever" | 4:14 | |
10. | "Slippage" | 3:57 | |
Total length: | 42:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Big Black Cloud, Little White Lie" | 3:07 |
12. | "Train" (Village Hall Mix) | 5:28 |
13. | "Train" (Ewan Pearson 6/8 Vocal) | 7:34 |
14. | "Train" (T. Raumschmiere Remix) | 5:52 |
Total length: | 59:58 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Strict Machine" (Benny Benassi Sfaction Edit) |
| 3:27 |
2. | "Train" (Ewan Pearson Dub) | 7:46 | |
3. | "Deep Honey" (Live at London ULU, 6 March 2003) | 4:41 | |
4. | "Hairy Trees" (Live at London ULU, 6 March 2003) | 6:47 | |
5. | "Yes Sir" |
| 3:58 |
6. | "El Train" (T. Raumschmiere Rmx) | 5:52 | |
7. | "Strict Machine" (Benny Benassi Sfaction Extended Mix) |
| 6:53 |
Total length: | 39:24 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Black Cherry. [42]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI) [33] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 500,000 [39] |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 23 April 2003 | CD | EMI | [40] |
Germany | 25 April 2003 | [58] | ||
Australia | 28 April 2003 | [59] | ||
Spain | Everlasting | [60] | ||
United Kingdom |
| Mute | [61] | |
France | 29 April 2003 |
| Labels | [62] |
United States | 6 May 2003 |
| Mute | [17] |
Netherlands | May 2004 | Special edition 2-CD | [PIAS] Benelux | [41] |
Goldfrapp were an English electronic music duo from London, formed in 1999. The duo consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory (synthesiser).
Felt Mountain is the debut studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp. It was released on 11 September 2000 by Mute Records. The album takes influence from a variety of music styles such as 1960s pop, cabaret, folk and electronica.
Supernature is the third studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released on 17 August 2005 by Mute Records. The album received generally favourable reviews, with most critics complimenting its blend of pop and electronic music. It debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 52,976 copies, and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). Supernature has sold one million copies worldwide.
English electronic music duo Goldfrapp have released seven studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, four extended plays, 25 singles, eight promotional singles, one video album and 29 music videos. The band was formed in 1999 in London, and consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory (synthesiser).
"Number 1" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their third studio album, Supernature (2005). Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song features a synthesiser and bass guitar arrangement and was written about the importance and meaningfulness that somebody shares with another, despite that it might not necessarily last.
"Ooh La La" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their third studio album, Supernature (2005). Written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the song consists largely of a synthesiser and guitar arrangement, and has been described as "a dirty, decadent homage to Marc Bolan".
"Black Cherry" is a song by British electronic music duo Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for their second studio album, Black Cherry (2003). The song was released as the album's fourth single in March 2004 to positive reviews from music critics. It was a modest commercial success, reaching the top thirty in the United Kingdom and on the United States Hot Dance Singles Sales chart.
"Strict Machine" is an electronic dance song written by British electronic music duo Goldfrapp and Nick Batt for Goldfrapp's second studio album, Black Cherry (2003). It was produced by Goldfrapp and describes laboratory rats in neuroscience experiments. Alison Goldfrapp read in a newspaper about experiments in which scientists stimulated rats' brains so that the rats would feel joy when following commands. She was inspired to write "Strict Machine" based on images of the experiment and "more human aspects of machines and sex and control". Actress Gwendoline Christie features on the record sleeve disguised in a rabbit mask.
"Train" is a song written and performed by British musical group Goldfrapp for their second album Black Cherry (2003). The song was produced by Goldfrapp and received a very positive reception from music critics. It was released as the lead single in the second quarter of 2003 and reached the top thirty in the United Kingdom, where it became Goldfrapp's first top thirty single. The original title of the song was "Wolf Lady", which makes reference to the lyrics in the second verse of the song. The lyrics of "Train" are based on Alison Goldfrapp's observations while in Los Angeles, California. She stated that the song describes wealth, drugs, and sex with "a sort of disgust of it and at the same time a sort of need to indulge in these things."
Alf is the debut solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 5 November 1984 by CBS Records. The album launched Moyet's solo career following the disbanding of synth-pop duo Yazoo. The album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Love Resurrection", "All Cried Out", "Invisible" and "For You Only".
Seventh Tree is the fourth studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released on 22 February 2008 by Mute Records. It was named after a dream Alison Goldfrapp had about a "very large tree". Taking inspiration from paganism and surreal English children's books, Goldfrapp described the album as a "sensual counterpoint to the glitterball glamour of Supernature", their previous studio album from 2005.
Head First is the fifth studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released 19 March 2010 by Mute Records. The album debuted at number six on the UK Albums Chart, selling 23,261 copies in its first week. It was supported by three singles: "Rocket", "Alive" and "Believer". Head First received a nomination for Best Electronic/Dance Album at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.
"Rocket" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First (2010). It was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Pascal Gabriel. The song was released on 8 March 2010 as the album's lead single. To promote the single, the duo performed the song on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 26 March 2010. The accompanying music video features Alison driving a truck hauling a rocket with someone entirely wrapped in duct tape who is then taped to the rocket when it is launched at the end.
"Alive" is a song by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp from their fifth studio album, Head First (2010). It was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, with additional production by Richard X. The song was released on 7 June 2010 as the album's second single. The single failed to chart on the UK Singles Chart, while becoming Goldfrapp's fifth single to top the Hot Dance Club Songs chart in the United States.
Tales of Us is the sixth studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released on 6 September 2013 by Mute Records. In June 2013, the duo embarked on the Tales of Us Tour to promote the album.
Cherry Bomb is the fourth studio album by the American rapper Tyler, the Creator. It was released on April 13, 2015, by Odd Future Records. On April 9, 2015, the album was informally announced on iTunes, along with the release of two tracks. Production was handled entirely by Tyler himself, with additional contributions by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger. The album features guest appearances from Schoolboy Q, Charlie Wilson, Kali Uchis, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Pharrell Williams and Austin Feinstein, among others. The album was supported by two singles: "Deathcamp" and "Fucking Young / Perfect", accompanied by 2 music videos.
Silver Eye is the seventh and final studio album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released on 31 March 2017 by Mute Records. The album's first single, "Anymore", was released to digital music retailers on 23 January 2017 after its premiere on Lauren Laverne's BBC Radio 6 show.
"Anymore" is a song performed by English group Goldfrapp from their seventh studio album Silver Eye (2017). It was released as a CD single and digital download on 23 January 2017 through Mute Records. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and William Owen Gregory, with additional production coming from The Haxan Cloak and John Congleton. The song incorporates several genres, including dance-pop, electronica and synth-pop, and takes influence from disco and glitch music. Critics noticed similarities between "Anymore" and the music from their 2003 album Black Cherry. Lyrically, Goldfrapp sings in robotic vocals about romance, which one critic felt referenced their 2005 single "Ooh La La".
"Ocean" is a song by English group Goldfrapp from their seventh studio album Silver Eye (2017). It was released as the album's first promotional single on 10 March 2017 through Mute Records. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and William Owen Gregory, with additional production coming from The Haxan Cloak and John Congleton. An electronic and synth-rock song, "Ocean" marks the return of Goldfrapp's heavy use of synths in their music. Written in couplets, the lyrics were described as dark by several commentators. Critics also drew comparisons between "Ocean" and the works of other musicians and groups, such as Shirley Manson, Nine Inch Nails, and Depeche Mode.
The Love Invention is the debut solo studio album by British singer and musician Alison Goldfrapp. It was released on 12 May 2023 as her first full-length project under her own name, away from her efforts as part of electropop duo Goldfrapp. Singles from the album include "Digging Deeper" featuring Claptone, "Fever" featuring Paul Woolford, and "So Hard So Hot".
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