Supernature (CD - 2006)

Additional personnel: Daniel Miller, Charlie Jones .

Arguably Goldfrapp's most accessible and immediately engaging album, SUPERNATURE features the British duo mixing sensual electronica with catchy pop to wonderful effect. Sounding like the result of Ziggy Stardust crash-landing in Prince's studio during a session with Kylie Minogue, this outing sparkles with willful decadence and glamour, opening with the T. Rex-like techno-stomp of "Ooh La La." Alison Goldfrapp's voice often recalls both Minogue and Kate Bush, with the music generally veering towards the dance-floor furor of the former. Though the record does present slow and/or mid-tempo tracks, most notably the shuffling "You Never Know" and the dreamy "Let It Take You," Goldfrapp and Will Gregory's synth-soaked textures are frequently employed to a clubby, crowd-pleasing end, as on the sassy "Lovely 2 C U" and the raucous "Satin Chic." Although much of SUPERNATURE lacks the moody, overtly cinematic atmosphere of earlier Goldfrapp releases, most listeners will be too busy careening around the room to care.

The 2006 U.S. edition of SUPERNATURE features the bonus track "Beautiful," a surging techno-tinged tune on a par with the album's best songs. minimize