Singles have always been a tough call for musicians. Which songs from the latest album are representative, accessible and commercially viable? All of these traits are considered when tracks are chosen to be singles on a new album. As a result, singles can be a tough breed to analyze or criticize.
Depending on the artist, their catalogue of singles could be a pitch-perfect representation of their larger body of work or a superficial gloss over greater achievements. Goldfrapp's latest release, a compilation of the group's singles simply titled "The Singles," lies somewhere between these two extremes.
Some of Goldfrapp's greatest songs are included in this album, as are two new tracks, "Yellow Halo" and "Melancholy Sky," making "The Singles" a good introduction to newcomers or a convenient compilation for familiar listeners. Unlike those of other artists, Goldfrapp's singles do a decent job of capturing the variety of their discography, although there is an unsurprising emphasis on their dance tracks.
Every official Goldfrapp LP is represented on "The Singles," from their lushly noir debut "Felt Mountain" (2000) to their more poppy later albums like "Head First" (2010). The inclusiveness of the compilation is its greatest asset. Goldfrapp's progression from more ambient, sultry songs to club-oriented synthpop gives their catalogue a variety that few indie groups can lay claim to. However, only a fraction of this diversity is really discernible on "The Singles." Since some of Goldfrapp's best works were never released on EPs, they could not be included in this compilation. As a result, the full breadth of Goldfrapp's sound is not documented on "The Singles," though the compilation still includes some great songs.
"The Singles" opens with one of Goldfrapp's better tracks, "Ooh La La." Lead singer Alison Goldfrapp's trademark breathy vocals are perfect over a vaguely bluesy bass riff and a variety of crackling synth lines. The group's crystal clear production is fully evident in this song, with each musical element remaining distinct and punchy. When Goldfrapp launches into the titular "oohs" and "las" during the chorus, a fleet of screeching electronic noises and other indescribable sounds accompany her. Even when they're doing straightforward pop, the band manages to incorporate experimental aesthetics without a hitch.
That said, there is a feeling of monotony in many tracks. The bar-hall dance rhythms and gritty synth work of "Ooh La La" sound remarkably similar to those in "Strict Machine," "Ride a White Horse" and "Rocket." Despite the success Goldfrapp have enjoyed doing more club-oriented songs, these tracks don't always show what the group is fully capable of. This tendency hampers "The Singles," which focuses too heavily on one aspect of the group's sound.
Some of the compilation's best moments occur when the frenetic, poppy tracks segue into more subtle, low-key songs. One of the best juxtapositions on the album is in its first half, when the pounding "Strict Machine" gives way to the ethereal whistling and voluminous string arrangements of "Lovely Head," Goldfrapp's first single. One can't help but miss the group's earliest efforts, when Goldfrapp's sensual vocals were given center stage over the glittery production that would dominate later albums like "Supernature" (2005).
However, the best tracks in Goldfrapp's oeuvre combine their keen ear for voluptuous melodies with driving dance rhythms. "Utopia" exemplifies this synergy. Goldfrapp opens the track with an impressively operatic vocal line before electronic beats, a male choir and intricately melodic synths phase in and out perfectly. This balance between pretty chords and melodies with more uptempo beats shows how well Goldfrapp can blend different moods without any tension.
The compilation's two new songs represent a look back to the group's more melodic albums such as "Felt Mountain" and "Seventh Tree" (2008). "Yellow Halo," a spaced out track with ambient droning sounds and a surprisingly sentimental vocal line, sounds refreshing but unadventurous as the album's penultimate song. "Melancholy Sky," the album's final track, ends on a remarkably similar note. Eminently agreeable string-section chords drift past before an even more affirmative brass section brings the song to its climax. Even though the compilation ends on a slightly weak note, it has more than enough energy in its preceding songs to make up for it. While "The Singles" isn't the best snapshot of Goldfrapp a fan could ask for, it has plenty of good music to keep people listening.
