Felt Mountain

by

Goldfrapp

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Ever see the animated film, or hear the soundtrack for, "Mad Monster Party?" Or, remember when Soft Cell did their version of "You only live twice?"

Well, what I'm trying to do, albeit unsuccessfully, is give you a jist of this album. It's quite hard to do. If Portishead, Massive Attack, early Hooverphonic, or maybe even Morecheeba decided to team up with an orchestra and perform Shirley Bassey (read James Bond) theme songs, you might have this album. This is not a bad thing at all.

I just heard this album while shopping at a local record store. It was so etherial and moody, with such beautiful vocals, that I had to purchase it at once. It is incredible.

It is a dark, enchanting album. It is extremely fresh sounding, yet, at the same time, it is quite nostalgic. Listening to it gives you the feeling that, at any moment, Sean Connery could come walking into the room. In a sense, if it helps, it's kind of as if Shirley Bassey is singing and Portishead are laying down the music, scored by Ennio Morricone or Hugo Montenegro, with a dash of Lalo Schifrin.

It is a very, very enjoyable cd, and one that I think you will truly treasure in your collection.

This is the kind of music you lie in bed to with your headphones on. Felt Mountain is so textured and layered with ambience and an unshakable creepiness, that for the first few spins listening to each song is an experience. The comparison to Portishead isn't out of place as cabaret and lounge music with an eerie bent come to mind. The Shirley Bassey influence is obvious throughout the whole the album but it really stands out on 'Human,' which I must concur with other reviewers, is the best James Bond theme song that never was. My biggest problem with this album is that the majority of the tracks sound too similiar. This is partly compensated by the fact that it's a short album...it ends without you feeling exhausted and glad to hit eject button. I still don't think it matches Portishead...but I like what Goldfrapp has done here.