Felt Mountain

You gotta love an album that doesn't have a DELUXE EXTENDED SUPER PREMIUM $$ EDITION. Pretty good. Bonus star for that, but I don't think I would seek out a concert or anything.

cool and sultry

The first half comes across as a delightful retro-futurist triphop fantasy. I really dig it. Unfortunately, the second half doesn’t maintain that level of interest. Still a pretty solid album, though.

Wow, really enjoyed this one and I'll probably dig through more of Goldfrapp's discography now that I know they exist. This one is chill 60's lounge music filtered gently through an eerie sci-fi lens. The soundscape feels very inventive and unique. Fascist designer babies and beautiful severed Frankenstein heads never sounded so refined. I especially enjoy the album's technique of using the Korg MS-20 synthesizer on the vocals; the result sounds similar to - but also distinct from - the theremin. I sometimes joke that there are two genres of theremin music: spooky and sci-fi. Felt Mountain is actually kind of a nice synthesis of those two moods.

Excelente voz y electrónica. Siempre estarán presentes

Very cool

8/10

Love it!

I've listened to a Goldfrapp album that I didnt love, so I probably wouldn't have ever gotten to this one without the project. I've been pleasantly surprised. This is a satisfying blend of strange and lovely, and was perfect to listen to in the dark with headphones before bed. The mix is so delicate, no element ever too quiet or loud or competing for attention. Her whistling and operatic highs are the light filtering through the coverage of treetops in a forest. I would definitely revisit this one.

dark and soothing. i am enraptured by her voice and i like this album more than the work of hers that was previously on this challenge (seventh tree from 2008).

Normally I don't like slower, minimalistic stuff like this, but it had a really ethereal and almost eerie sound to it that I found really interesting

I liked this! Kind of like massive attack but with more of a big band sound.

Dette var jo veldig digg musikk! Nydelig stemning, mange øyeblikk som gir følelsen av å være i en Bond-film. Fikk også litt julestemning av et par av låtene, som er jo et pluss i disse tider. Det eneste som drar det litt ned (helhetsmessig) er at man fort begynner å oppdage litt "klisjeer" på tvers av sanger som står veldig ut. Men fortsatt veldig bra! Beste sanger: Human, Deer Stop og Oompah Radar

Goldfrapp always brings me back to college Anthropology classes. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

Favourite song - Human

Lush and lonely. Tender and seductive. Was going to give a 3 but think it really works as a complete piece. Every track deserves to be here and compliments the record. It flows and tracks really well. Concise and to the point I was a bit sad when it ended

I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Lots of interesting work with a diverse set of influences. Some of it might have been good theme music for a Bond film.

## In-Depth Review of *Felt Mountain* by Goldfrapp Goldfrapp's debut album, *Felt Mountain*, released in September 2000, is a landmark in electronic music, blending elements of trip hop, folk, and cabaret into a unique sonic tapestry. The collaboration between Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory resulted in a collection of tracks that are both hauntingly beautiful and richly textured. This review will explore the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, influences, and its pros and cons. ### Lyrics The lyrics of *Felt Mountain* are characterized by their abstract and often surreal imagery. Alison Goldfrapp's writing draws on personal experiences and cinematic inspirations, creating a dreamlike quality throughout the album. - **Isolation and Introspection**: Many songs reflect feelings of loneliness and introspection. For instance, the lyrics from "Lovely Head" convey a sense of isolation with lines like "Nobody’s here, no-one but me," illustrating a deep emotional landscape. - **Cinematic Influences**: The lyrics often evoke visual imagery reminiscent of film narratives. "Utopia," for example, begins with stark descriptions of a desolate landscape—“It’s a strange day/No colours or shapes/No sound in my head”—setting a tone that feels both alien and familiar. - **Gothic Fairy Tales**: Themes of gothic fairy tales permeate the album. Tracks like "Horse Tears" juxtapose beauty with melancholy, presenting love as both tender and painful. ### Music Musically, *Felt Mountain* is an eclectic mix that defies easy categorization. It incorporates various genres and styles: - **Cinematic Soundscapes**: The production features lush orchestration with strings and synthesizers creating expansive soundscapes. The opening track "Lovely Head" introduces listeners to this cinematic style with its whistling motif and sweeping strings. - **Electronic Elements**: The album employs electronic beats and textures that are both modern and retro. Songs like "Human" showcase pulsating rhythms layered with Goldfrapp's ethereal vocals. - **Diverse Influences**: The music reflects influences from 1960s pop to contemporary electronic music. Tracks like "Oompa Radar" incorporate playful carnival sounds while maintaining an underlying sense of melancholy. ### Production The production of *Felt Mountain* is notable for its meticulous attention to detail: - **Collaboration**: Goldfrapp and Gregory's collaborative process involved extensive experimentation with sound. They utilized vintage keyboards alongside modern technology to create a rich auditory experience. - **Atmospheric Quality**: The album is praised for its atmospheric quality, where each track flows seamlessly into the next. This cohesiveness enhances the listening experience, allowing themes to resonate throughout the album. - **Layered Textures**: The use of real instruments alongside electronic sounds creates a dynamic listening experience. For example, the blend of strings with electronic beats in "Utopia" exemplifies this layered approach. ### Themes Thematically, *Felt Mountain* explores various motifs that resonate through its lyrics and music: - **Isolation vs. Connection**: A recurring theme is the tension between isolation and the desire for connection. This duality is evident in tracks like "Human," where sensuality meets vulnerability. - **Nature and Environment**: Nature plays a significant role in shaping the album's atmosphere. Lyrics often reference natural elements, contributing to the overall sense of place within the music. - **Dreams vs. Reality**: The dreamlike quality of the album blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. This theme is encapsulated in songs like "Pilots," which describes travelers floating above Earth, suggesting an escape from mundane existence. ### Influence *Felt Mountain* has had a lasting impact on both electronic music and pop culture: - **Pioneering Sound**: The album set a precedent for blending electronic sounds with organic instrumentation, influencing subsequent artists within the genre. - **Critical Acclaim**: It was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize in 2001, highlighting its significance within British music at the time. Critics praised its innovative approach to songwriting and production. - **Cultural References**: The cinematic quality of the album has led to comparisons with film scores, particularly those by composers like Ennio Morricone. Its lush soundscapes have made it a favorite for use in various media contexts. ### Pros and Cons #### Pros - **Innovative Sound**: *Felt Mountain* offers a unique blend of genres that was ahead of its time, combining electronic elements with orchestral arrangements. - **Emotional Depth**: The lyrics provide profound emotional insights that resonate with listeners on multiple levels. - **Cohesive Experience**: The album flows seamlessly from one track to another, creating an immersive listening experience that encourages full engagement. #### Cons - **Pacing Issues**: Some listeners may find certain tracks slow or meandering, which could disrupt the overall flow for those seeking more energetic compositions. - **Niche Appeal**: The abstract nature of the lyrics and sound may not appeal to mainstream audiences accustomed to more conventional pop structures. - **Comparative Lack of Hits**: While critically acclaimed, *Felt Mountain* did not produce major commercial hits compared to later albums by Goldfrapp, which might limit its recognition among casual listeners. ### Conclusion Goldfrapp's *Felt Mountain* remains an essential listen for fans of innovative music that defies categorization. Its intricate blend of lyrical depth, musical experimentation, and atmospheric production creates an experience that resonates long after the final track ends. While it may not cater to all tastes due to its niche appeal and pacing issues, it stands as a testament to Goldfrapp's artistry and their ability to craft an evocative soundscape that continues to influence artists today.

Dreamy, melty, mechanical album. Loved it so much.

Extremely cool. This one may have room to grow. 4/5

In th3 middle of this album i realized how beautiful it is. It's like Portishead meets Bond themes meets the opera singer from Fifth Element. Then I got bored by the penultimate song. As single I'm sure I like these songs. As an album it ends up being too much of the same thing

Nice album

Very different and interesting. A couple of the hits are fantastic. The whole thing really has a cool atmosphere. It might be a bit much to listen too often.

This was so refreshing. Feel like I don’t know this type of music really but a very welcomed chang of pace

Finally! Something both that I haven't heard at all before & was released in the 2000s (still 24 years ago as of this writing but I'll take whatever "current" music I can get with this). Favs: "Lovely Head", "Utopia" Least: (1x) A, 4 stars

This album was a bit experimental like the Fionna Apple one I listened to earlier this week. More grounded though. One of the songs that stood out to me was either sampled by Kanye in Freestyle 4 from TLOP or used the same song for it. Cool stuff. Definitely would listen to it again. Standouts: Human, Pilots, Deer Stop, Oompa Rider, and Horse Tears.

Cool vibes ambiance type music

This is pretty good

Elokuvamaista, ambienttia, rauhallista, hidasta ja tunnelmallista. Tulee tosi mustavalkoinen fiilis. Tosi hämyistä. Parhaat: Deer Stop, Utopia, Horse Tears, Lovely Head.

Really enjoyed this one. Soft singing with all sorts of weird instrumentation. Really liked the string parts in the background. Quite a haunting sounding album. First track was my favorite.

If I were to sum this album up in one word it would be “woozy”. I had a Goldfrapp CD back in the day. I just looked it up and it was “Black Cherry”. It wasn’t exactly my sort of thing but it overlapped enough. I think “Black Cherry” was more electronic / dance / stomp. Whereas this is dreamy, discombobulating, woozy… not that that’s a bad thing. But it’s a very specific mood. Alison Goldfrapp has a rather brassy voice. Whilst listening I figured out she reminds me of Shirley Bassey doing that song with the Propellerheads. I’m not sure what to give this. I think it’s a 3.5. I like it but won’t be reaching to put it on a lot.

Well thought out production with an existential love theme. The mood of the album changes with each song. Starts out with a very dramatic tone, her voice is haunting. Then switches to a more light hearted roller coaster with her voice turning angelic. Original Lana del Rey?

Ethereal and fantastical debut by Godfrapp to help usher us into the millennium. She (they) would go on to experiment too wildly for my taste. I can’t really trust a band who oscillate between styles, like it’s all an affectation. Still this was beautiful. Her voice magical, the synths dreamlike, at times carnivalesque. She had the potential of someone like say Bjork or Kate Bush if only she had evolved, not revolved her talents.

This one was a pleasant surprise. Music's interested and sophisticated (I think?). And I like it better than most electronica-type stuff. Some of the songs are pretty weird and I think most, if not all, of the lyrics are gibberish. But her voice is SO sexy I don't even care. Would definitely listen again.

Beautiful, but too slow for me

Floating through space (Pilots) ? Moon bouncing through space circus? With oompa loompas waltzing (Oompah Radar)? This is cool

So weird and so good

It's ambient kinda trance chill vibes and I'm all about that, shocked I've never listened to this before, there's one real duff track

This music is distant and immense, just like a mountain.

Melodic and a bit spooky

An adventure

Enjoyed it quite a bit.

A really good album, I liked the style definitely fit my mood today. I liked Lovely Head and Pilots the best.

Love it. Made a new fan today.

Didn’t expect to like this. Might have been a perfect storm of my headspace at the time. Mysterious, sexy, haunting

Это вполне мог бы быть альбом Sol Seppy

A hypnotic beautiful album of sensuality and guile..

I really liked it. Even the weird songs usually had something cool about them

Its not much like anything else, making it an interesting album of the time

Cool but a bit too gothy for me. But defs did enjoy listening to something unique, plus undoubted a good album

Nice.

Det lyder som soundtracket til en film der forsøger at skabe en 60er vibe. Jeg tænker Shirley Basset og gamle James Bond film når jeg hører det. Det fungerer rigtig fint som background music til havearbejde (og sikker også andet arbejde)

An interesting one - I don't like Bjork but I felt there were shades fo her here, and yet I did enjoy this album. Also elements of bands like Air, who I do like.

A beautiful and lush folktronica record based on trip hop and an encompassing dreamy atmosphere. Really strong all throughout with plenty of creative ideas. No bad tracks, although I felt the experimental ideas in "Deer Stop" and "Oompa Radar" didn't work as well as she was going for, especially for their lengths. "Horse Tears" is a weak closer, although I do really like that eery atmosphere. Other than that, the only thing I didn't like was how the energy and mood kept bouncing back and forth. Track order could have been picked better, but "Lovely Head" was an excellent opener, and "Horse Tears" is fitting as the last track. I did highly enjoy this, and it is my type of music. It's highly ingenuitive with several standout hits and some intriguing deep cuts. Not perfect, but I really appreciate the artistry and creativity in every track, even the hits, showing she wasn't trying to sell out at all.

Good synth-pop with vocals over cinematic soundscapes that are influenced by a variety of music styles

James Bond ass music. At times I swore this was the Alien Opera song from Fifth Element. Super weird but I enjoyed it. 8/10

It feels and sound like an intimate gig in Berlin before the fucking Nazis ruined it.

The first three tracks sound like James Bond opening songs. And that’s not a bad thing! The vocals are beautiful and the music is interestingly weird and haunting. I really liked ‘Human’ and ‘Utopia’. The electro sound can definitely be interesting when paired with good vocals like this. 3.6 stars

Love the vibe!!

Bizarre and Beautiful.

This was unique. Could see myself listening agin.

Total shock to get this smooth, Shirley Bassey/James Bond theme/ cocktail seduction hour music. I only knew Goldfrapp from https://youtu.be/uco-2V4ytYQ?si=tgbCxgcSImoVzI2s.

Really liked it. There were parts I wish they were a bit more experimental but all in all was pretty good

This album was stunning. I was really impressed with the lush instrumentation and the variety of musical styles in such a short project. "Deer Stop" and "Horse Tears" were the two songs that felt a bit weak comparatively, but generally this was a strong listen. 4/5.

Interesting mix of a smoky jazz bar and a roadside circus.

Not the kind of music I listen to, though

Reminds me a little bit of Imelda May. Very chill, with a retro feel. I like it.

Second Goldfrapp album in a week, and I’m still enjoying the duo’s music. Great 1-2 punch opening with Lovely Head and Paper Bag. Then there is not much memorable (Deer Stop being an exception) until Utopia wins Best Song By A Mile. I’m just as torn as with Seventh Tree. Is it a 6/10 or 7/10? Noone really knows.

Was not expecting something this cool. The dark ambience created a great atmosphere as I was walking home from work. Will have to Revisit this again sometime. Fav songs: - Lovely Head - Pilots - Deer Stop - Utopia

A wide variety of sounds and textures. Unique and familiar at the same time.

Chill-Goldfrapp before they became Party-Goldfrapp. I enjoy them both. This a great album.

Well, that was an experience! I felt like I was in a dream sequence for 40 minutes! 4 stars for the novelty. Sort of makes good writing music too.

Solid

Listening to this album I felt like I was with Billie Eilish in a James Bond movie floating in space with helium balloons entering the Twighlight Zone. The lead singer’s voice is so ethereal. Beautiful orchestration. This album surprised me. I really enjoyed it.

I found this really interesting to listen to…although it kind of didn’t overly impress me. I mean, I listened and then later when I was deciding on a rating, I had to relisten as I couldn’t remember what it sounded like at all. I think that the second listen was better…I might remember it now…

I felt like I should be sipping cocktails in a lounge listening to this, perhaps judging a James Bond soundtrack competition. I have heard some of the more dance-y, later Goldfrapp tunes so I was a little surprised at this. Enjoyable!

Love the musicality of this. Very James-Bond-theme. Can't really understand the lyrics in many of the songs. But those I could, I liked.

First half of the album felt like a James Bond movie. Then it got weird, with some dreamy sounds and circus vibes. It finished by going back to the movie soundtrack style, this time perhaps for some kind of mafia film. This isn't really something I'd listen to, but actually quite enjoyed the album. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was just really chill and nice to listen to. Just made me feel very zen and feel the album. Really enjoyed Human

This album went places. We started with the sort of jazz you'd expect from a pulp spy movie. Wasn't sure but I vibed with it. just as it was it was starting to get to the end of its welcome, we get to "Human" and "Deer Stop", and I'm like okay that's a bit of wild distortion. It's almost like whale song. We're not just noir any more, we're melancholy. Then the next one, the titular song, "Felt Mountain" put me right up there on the mountain with the band. I really liked the entrancing theme. I wish we got more of that throughout the album, but immediately we made a hard dive into a big top circus tent with that deep brass. I didn't look at the name of the track until the song was over, but "Oompa Radar" is perfectly fitting. I liked this album overall and am curious to give it another listen or check out more of what Goldfrapp have put out. I also was reminded a lot of the band Cortex during this listen the way they both favor the high register female vocals that come off as a whistle.

I really enjoyed the dreamy and catchy Seventh Tree when that came up a few months ago, and had been meaning to check out some more Goldfrapp but just hadn’t. This is their debut and is very different to what I expected but still incredibly good - it’s even more experimental, ranging from ethereal yodelling to haunted fairground music in consecutive tracks, but everything works so well to create this delicate and unsettling but also strangely beautiful soundscape. I’ll definitely be delving further into the discography now

Música ambiental/electrónica curiosa. Un 4.

Ganske bra. Like når folk synge så lyst at da høres ut som ein theremin

Pretty cool, a little flat in sound for my taste

Wow. Really different. Liked

Love Goldfrapp

Okay enough combination of songs, kind of mixture between Trip Hop and Lounge music. Zillion years ago was support act in concert I went to and was very disappointing, but album is fine.

very unique and weird(in a good way)

Really interesting

This is... pretty incredible. I was not expecting an album of such cinematic proportions this morning. I feel like someone's dropped me into a continuous opening credits scene of a Bond film. The string arrangements alone pretty phenomenal and unexpected. And the very odd vocal / synth manipulations! Some of them are so exposed and bare and just plain weird. I thought the songwriting was kind of lackluster, but made up completely by both the performances and the utter strangeness of these genres mashed together. 4/5, a strong contender for coolest conceptual pair I've heard in a while.

4/5. A smooth and suave album, with dark and sexual themes throughout. I enjoyed the minimalist but heavy instrumentation matched with the flowing female voice. An ambient, trippy atmosphere surrounds these songs and feels like a brooding dream that slowly transforms into a nightmare. When I want to feel like I'm being watched, I'll put this one on.

Nice music, pretty good atmosphere, really nice vocal, chilled performance. Some songs were a bit too lofi for my liking, but otherwise an almost perfect album for a quiet night in the autumn, with a stereotypical tea and a book by the fireplace. Very cool record.

Fun weird sounds, kinda spooky and different to what I’d usually listen to

actually super dope

Less edgy Portishead

11/29/23. Probably the first ambient style album I genuinely enjoyed. Cool chord progressions and Goldfrapp has an old school voice.

New to me, but I love it. Whistling pushes my buttons. Listened twice.

Really cinematic stuff. Liked it a lot.

scary, sad, horror movie vibes but that was lowkey exactly what i was looking for so it worked out

Tough to rate. I liked it, but it also sort of faded into the background while I was listening. Very cool vibe. Nice vocals. Should be a bond theme.

good one

Very interesting album! It’s almost like a Radiohead / Portishead hybrid, but still very much its unique thing! There’s a bit of an eerie/haunting vibe throughout some songs, and that’s great. The vocals are used almost as an instrument, which I love. I need to check out more by them. 8,5 out of 10

Seductively cabaret - Just needs a high bar table, candle and negroni

Oh boy, I was excited when I saw this was my album of the day. I had never heard of Godfrapp until about 45 albums ago when I got their album Seventh Tree, and I really loved that. It's strange, because I'm not a fan of electronic music, and I'm not a fan of cabaret, but somehow Goldfrapp just does it for me. She has a beautiful, seductive voice, and the music is so cool and dream-like. Love it. 4 stars.

This isn't the best Goldfrapp album. I mean, it's pretty good and it set a decent direction for them to travel in, but it sure ain't the best they've done.

Great album, can't believe I'd never heard of this band before!

Picking up the indecipherable singing style and gauzy soundscapes of the Cocteaus, on their first album they added trip-hop vibes for something that still sounds odd and fresh thirty years later. They'd forego this for a more straightforward electropop sound, then decide they didn't want that either. One of the more interesting bands of the last thirty years.

Dreamy, breathy singing over an eclectic trip-hop/ electronica/ classical backing. I liked it and even went back to listen to some of my favourite tracks a second time. But ultimately, it just made me want to listen to Portishead, who are in my opinion anyway, similar but superior in every way, including doing this almost a decade earlier. I'm going to stick to my personal rules here for scoring: 1- awful/ irredeemable - the world would be a better place without this album 2 - bad but had something about it that saved it from a single star rating 3 - average/ bland - won't listen to again but not awful 4 - good - will probably listen to this again 5 - superb - almost perfect and will definitely relisten or already on my playlist This is somewhere between a 3 and a 4, but I'll be generous and bump it up to a 4 as I keep finding myself whistling the first track.

Big fan of this unique style of electronic. Real subtle on the electronic with female vocalist. Sounds like it has oldies vibes. 4.2

Probably the best Goldfrapp album. I like it when it is dreamy or cinematic but less so when they push the vocals too much, as especially on Deer Stop.

Ethereally cool

Perfectly fit my melancholy mood.

"Felt Mountain" is the debut album by English electronic duo Goldfrapp. The music fits into the electronica, ambient and trip hop genres with influences of 60's pop and folk. The album was self-produced by Goldfrapp members Will Gregory (keyboards, string/brass arrangements) and Allison Goldfrapp (vocals, keyboards). Critically, the album was well-received and commercially hit #57 in the UK eventually in 2001. Their first single "Lovely Head" opens the album with Allison whistling. A drumbeat, ambient synths and harpsichord come in. Allison whispers, the synths become mysterious and eerie and this sounds like they were definitely auditioning for a song in the latest James Bond movie. That's a theme throughout. It's about being in love with someone who's not in love with you. They continue that seductive vibe in "Human." This time a mambo-style beat is added. Strings also. "Pilots" amps up the drama a bit. The strings and keyboards give the song a little more ambient feel. The music is perfect for the song's theme of floating in space. The self-titled "Felt Mountain" veers even more into dreamy ambiance. Mostly synths with a singular drumbeat and handclaps. Allison is mostly singing in a high pitch and making noises, no real lyrics, I guess creating an atmosphere as this song was inspired by the thought of a wolf trapped in a house and looking out in to a snowy landscape. Slow synth-piano keys begin "Utopia." What sounds like opera vocals in the background. Strings. The music and vocals build and get louder. A song about genetic engineering and fascism. The music on this album is seductive, mysterious and dramatic. I read that the album was supposedly written as a soundtrack. That's exactly what it sounds like. The music and vocals are perfect for the atmosphere they are trying to create and the lyrical themes ( love lost and more dreamy sci-fi subjects). There are a lot of similar sounding songs but they do mix it up with cabaret and a mambo-style songs. Overall, this kept my interest throughout.

Movie soundtrack feels. Liked more than I thought I would.

Nice moody electronic album with a fresh take on the trip-hop sound.

Blassiker men mer av ett vinteralbum nog

4.0

They were still finding their natural energy in this album it sounds like. It's all pretty interesting, though not mind blowing.

Incredibly creative and sonically diverse. Categorizing this thing into one genre would be impossible

This is art pop that really works. Creative and different without being too weird to get into. Standout is "Utopia".

Honestly, I really liked how atmospheric this felt. I wouldn't put this album on if I needed a musical jolt to wake me up, but it's perfect if I wanted something soothing with a bit of electronic life.

Overall a good album. Kinda had a James Bond vibe, at least that's what it sounded to me. Lots of good tracks, that i enjoyed quite a lot, but sadly also quite a few that aren't really that noteworthy. It's so close to a 5 star for me, if it wasn't for the other songs. Favorite songs: Lovely Head Human Pilots Utopia Horse Tears

Have had some seriously shit electronica albums from the generator recently. Glad to say this is not one of them

This is kind of a cool concept. like a melting classic golden age of hollywood soundtrack. I am feeling this album this morning, its a fun ride!

oompah radar is so silly i love it

I liked this more than the other one I got. Not that that one was bad or anything, but I dig the vibe more on this one. My favourite song was Paper Bag, I think.

4.0 - It’s got a noir futurism that I like. I’m imagining a cut scene from Blade Runner in which Harrison Ford’s character is watching the hot fembot sing some jazzy lounge number at an upscale cocktail bar. She could be lip synching to “Lovey Head.” I like the distorted vocal effect that sounds somewhere between a whistle and a mechanized dolphin cry (see “Pilots”).

The songs with more beat are really good - songs like Human with its mystical beats, Oompa Radar with its carnival ambience and Utopia. The down beat songs like Deer Stop are made good by the excellent vocals. The title of the album describes it perfectly.

I was familiar with “Lovely Head”, and its eerie synths as well as “Utopia”, which have made it onto our dinner and chill playlists over the last few years. This is a very quiet album, a bit like Portishead without the beats and a mellow, baroque pop influence. Goldfrapp has a lovely voice that she’s not afraid to distort, the production is elegant and varies subtly from track to track. Pitchfork said that “the songs aren't all that different from one another", which might be true on the surface, but in fact they borrow from many different styles. Close to a 5 for me.

Atmospheric electronica with incredible vocals delivered in the lounge style. This album is all about the vibe. Dreamy, haunting, and evocative. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Utopia Date listened: 22/05/23

Deer Stop 🔂

Damn this is so good. Never heard this album before. IDK how you even classify Goldfrapp. Like 40s lounge singer, meets Bjork, meets Air, meets Phantomas? IDK. It's great though and pretty different from the stuff of theirs that I knew.

This album has a nice, moody sparseness that pairs very well with her vocals, I enjoyed this more than I expected to!

Really Dreary and soft. I think there was more that went unexplored, but overall I enjoyed my time spent listening.

This is like a James Bond soundtrack written by aliens. A good ol' trip-hop album is always a welcome sight. Holy shit at "Utopia". It's been so long since I've heard a new song that instantly shot me into space. It's so beautiful. Loved it. A strong 4/5 rating from me.

Idk what is that sonic synthy rubbery whistle thingy but I liked how it's used here.

Cool stuff. I've heard the name Goldfrapp before, but only knew Utopia. I assumed she was kinda just an early 2000s synthpop act, so I was surprised how chamber music influenced this was. Lots of this sounds like bond music and with some cool influences of 60s space pop. Really liked this.

okay vi kører

I guess someone had to try and be the next Shirley bassey! Very cool vibes, trip hop feel, although very light on the electronica. Alot of strings and old soul sounds with new age production. Pretty cool. Ill give it 4, although I don't see it getting into my usual rotation

HL: "Lovely Head", "Human", "Pilots" Not even a day ago, I was reading about the pretty vocals in Snivilisation by Orbital to find out that they are in fact done by Alison Goldfrapp. And here she is again. Cool, experimental record. I wasn't too keen on the vocal distortion in "Deer Stop", but otherwise it joins the likes of Portishead's Dummy in chill-but-also-spooky records I enjoy March 16 2023

Le genre de découverte qui fait plaisir

Used to listen to this a lot when it came out

Belle découverte !

as soon as Eric said that he hated this and it sucked I knew I would probably like it. And I did. just the right amount of weird.

3.5

Got a certain amount of pre-existing affection for this. Love a girl who runs her voice through a theremin - how could you not? Fave tracks - "Lovely Head" and "Utopia" are both pretty sublime. I for one enjoy the silliness of "Oompah Radar" 🤡

finally something interesting. I heard about this album before, but never listened to it. didn't like it a lot. a bit boring and bland. but nice to hear something different than daddy rock

Super cool ambient electro pop Sounds like classic club music with a subtle modern electronic twist Flavours of jazz and swing Very sultry sound at times

Paper Bag, Human, Felt Mountain, & Utopia

ok

Incredibly moody and evocative, I can only imagine how much more refined her sound gets over time. The main thing holding the album back is the sameiness of the tracks, being too similar in tempo has the tracks all beginning to blend together too much without much time to let them be distinct.

Review tbc

Some cuts are music for a Bond movie, mostly in a good way, while others evoke classic film noir, generally to advantage. Better than Portishead, certainly, and probably on par with Saint Etienne, though not quite as good as St. Germain, and not aiming to be so chill anyway, all of which underscores the originality of this issue. One would perhaps prefer a litte more room for grooves and beats or just instrumental passages, because most are interesting and quite a few are lovely or intriguing or both. The use of strings and harpsichord is well and smoothly integrated with synths and the moderner instrumentation. The vocals, sometimes a bit overwrought, could perhaps be slignhtly de-empahsized to create a bit more space. Don't remember GF being so art song-y – chanson or lieder or whatever – but rather recalled a groovier, clubbier (though still continental vibe), which the other records (especially the notably poppier/rockier and once-included-now-banished Seventh Tree, which also has more fluid and superior vocals) are likely responsible for those misaligned recollections. The other are quite likable, too, and perhaps arguably more so than this, though only marginally. This is definitively worth knowing and listening to.

I like Goldfrapp in general, and I like the James Bond vibe of this album. I do not, however, dig the album art.

Very vibey, very cool. Definitely listen again

2000. Human, Lovely Head, Horse Tears, Utopia

Spooky boutique soundtrack.

Liked this. Very chill James Bond spy movie vibes. Would listen to again

Like a twisted Bond film score - cinematic but unsettling, enchanting but disturbing.

Really entrancing and easy to listen to yet really complex

Pretty cool, lounge music and other styles. Voice like Portishead singer. Good one for a dinner party.

I remember this being pretty ubiquitous when it came out, but I can't fully remember if I ever listened to it or not, and listening now it has a weird familiarity and unfamiliarity at the same time. This music feels very timeless and cinematic like it could have sound tracked a film from any era. It has a quality of feeling very at home anywhere. Recommended.

Ticks a lot of the same boxes as Dummy by Portishead combined with the Rome album from Danielle Luppi and Danger Mouse. It's a good album to have droning in the background. The singles Utopia and Lovely Head are obviously the standout tracks. The other benefit of this album is the length - my recent Prodigy and Chemical Brothers listening experiences were over an hour. This is done in 40 minutes, so you're not getting hammered with repetition. I'm split between a 3 and a 4, so I'll round up.

I had never heard of this one but it's right up my alley with the gorgeous lounge vocals and sweet electronic vibe. I will listen again for sure! This album is slick.

J'aime beaucoup le côté rétro western-forain, très cinématographique en fait. La voix, le mood, tout est agréable.

A unique, sensual and introverted album, that listens best in the late darker hours of the day. Unlike a lot of the other albums of Alison Goldfrapp this one has not lost anything of its strength. Mysterious songs like 'Lovely Head' and 'Human' as highlights still crawl under my skin. It's only unfortunate that the pretentious 'Oompah Radar' breaks the carefully built up magical spell this album has built up. It's not a 5* album because of it. After that break 'Utopia' luckily comes out as the best song of the album. Stellar debut. 4*

Interesting album, though I'm not fond of the same mood for 50 minutes. There were some really nice songs nonetheless.

Pretty good electro album.

Quiet, mysterious, nice 4/5

scary sometimes

Pop. Cabaret.

A fresh breath of air 4 outta 5 mics

Skemmtilegur hljóðheimur sem eldist vel og Goldfrapp er mjög flott söngkona. Ekki allt eftirminnilegt svo sem, en Utopia er geggjað lag, pínku Roxy Music á Avalon árunum í því. Fínt stöff.

Part Shirley Bassey, part yodelling (in 'Felt Mountain), part polka, but generally lovely and atmospheric Trip Hop. While it is of a time, and while it plays of 60s nostalgia, it still sounded modern then, and relevant now. A good album all in all, short and beautiful.

Floatier than a unit of mantle, takes you on a very easy-listening trip

Feels way ahead of its time honestly.

4.5/5. Very trippy, and def reminded me of Bjork. Neat listen 👍

Pretty sweet little record. Tons of nice grooves and different genres mixed together on this thing, but ends up making a really fun listen. 7/10

Interesting moody electrojazz. Sci fi film noir music.

Reminds me so much of a great video game or movie soundtrack. Awesome background music, very atmospheric!

British trip-hop is for sure not my genre but this Goldfrapp album wasn't too shabby. They clearly went into this project intending to produce something sweeping and cinematic and they nailed it. The vocals are, by and large, beautifully performed and the production values are top-notch. It really is a pretty good album. The only reason this didn't get a 5-star review was that, like so many electronica albums, it got a little too deep into its own navel. Somewhere around the middle of the album, I got tired of the overly-dramatic presentation and started wondering when it would be over. It came back around but that feeling of "I'm over this" is enough to pull it down a star.

Such a great album. Different!

Space jazz. very good.

Perfectly pitched retro-futuristic noir from electronic duo Goldfrapp, signalling all the alien uncertainty of a new millennium. "Felt Mountain" introduced Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory's project to the world as the work of two dark and brooding wizards of atmosphere. The songs often sound like soundtracks to Bond gone arthouse, and what a shame we don't live in that world. There's not the sharp focus, glam-tinged camp, or homely folktronica that showed up in Goldfrapp's later work: instead, "Felt Mountain" is a subtle, tasteful and very classy work of haunting solemnity. There's a compelling sense of drama to it, and a real otherworldliness. "Lovely Head" opens with a gentle brushed percussion line, low sustained strings and a whistled melody over a progression of unrelated chords. Although it leans into trip-hop with a lot of synths throughout, it's worth noting the production has a great deal of warmth. There's a pleasing amount of orchestral instruments being used as well, with string sections regularly padding out the sound and brass showing up to drive the sublime Latin-esque jam "Human". As well as unassuming, casually ethereal vocals, Alison Goldfrapp contributes some deliciously surreal lyrics ("when you laugh, I'm inside your mouth"; "are you human, or do you make it up?"; "my dog needs new ears, make his eyes see forever, make him live like me, again and again") The album really excels with these off-kilter musings set to music and it feels as though Goldfrapp have carved out a distinct corner of space to inhabit undisturbed. The rest of "Felt Mountain" floats in some ethereal space, never quite touching down and gliding happily above the Earth. "Pilots" and "Utopia" are two rare anthemic, triumphant cuts that feel like obvious single efforts. Neither of them are as subtle as some of the other tracks, with the latter actually getting an electric drumbeat and a brass-like fanfare countermelody. But they're the most tangible offerings, providing rare clear hooks to latch onto and sing along with. At its worst, "Felt Mountain" becomes a little too sparse and it comes over a bit like elevator music in space. "Deer Stop", with its intermittent marimba, filtered vocals and glacial pace, is barely conscious, while the title track relies on "dee dee"'s for lyrics and "Oompah Radar" is a disarming instrumental that is nowhere near as exciting as "trippy cabaret" might make it sound. If it's the kind of thing you're happy to have wash over you, then it's great, and it often works. But by the time "Horse Tears" comes along, there's the sense of having been on a cosmic journey without ever quite arriving anywhere. "Felt Mountain" possesses such a specific sound that it relies on its listeners being in a certain mood to get anything out of it. Today, I'm feeling generous and enjoyed the ride to nowhere, so it's getting a 4.

Felt like soaring through a dreamy but slightly eerie spacescape. Loved the mix of influences here.

Prefs: Lovely Head, Human, Felt Mountain, Oompah Radar, Utopia Moins pref: Deer Stop

Was hooked when I heard "Human." Remind me of Portishead in their slow, deliberate, seriousness. Makes a person pay attention and groove along.

Every song here could be a song in a James Bond film. Overall I like it. I like the vocal delivery as well as the theremine-like synth that wavers up and down across the album. My only qualm would be that the album is a bit static. But overall, a very seductive yet elegant album.

Goldfrapp has a way of bypassing my “defences” and getting right through me. And I love it P.S. It’s a pity women are so underrepresented here.

Rather pleasant.

I'd heard samples but not listened to before. Enjoyable and will relisten for background music.

I felt the mountains move

It sounds a bit like portishead and other trip-hop which is a sound I like, but it still sounds original and not just copied from that. I really like the vocals and chord progressions

Never heard of this band before but I love the mix of pop, orchestral music, and electronic

This album has the strengths and weaknesses of a debut by a clearly talented and idiosyncratic artist. We have such a lush and engrossing sound, led by an utterly sensuous and beguiling voice, simultaneously titilllating and menacing: a dip into a lustrous black. However, sometimes the record takes the aesthetic too far, and stumbles into mild self-parody. The circus music of Oompah Radar (wow, some people find clowns sinister!) and the occasional stabs at surrealist lyrics (gosh, dream imagery!) don't fully work. All this is to be expected: with such a unique artistic vision, Alison Goldfrapp is comparable to Kate Bush, in that her muse leads her to either to the misguided or the inspired. However, like Kate Bush, Goldfrapp has the sheer flair and savvy to transcend her whimsies on her best work, such as on her two subsequent albums. Felt Mountain is a great introduction to her work, but "introduction" is the operative word.

Mjög góð plata.

some lovely spooky sounds

Bit spacy but pretty good

Very spacey, but I liked it! It sounds like film music, in a good way.

Very nice and dark. Paper bag and Deer Stop as two favorites. Will put this into the rotation!

It’s not really my thing

Heeft wat donkere nummers maar wel wat ik mooi vind

Early you get James Bond soundtrack vibes from this, then in the back half it's more of a horror movie score. Very sultry vocals with squealing electronic backing of a theremin, orchestral strings. Pretty good. Some parts get a little weird, the ending of Deer Stop kind of meandered a bit and could have stopped sooner. Oompa Radar was pretty unique, polka evil circus vibe.

A lovely low-key album. Alison's vocals work well with these smooth, lush sounds that move so slowly, it feels like you're in a memory or a dream. It experiments with some weird ideas and doesn't always pay off, but for the most part it's a nice album. Even the circus music ended up sounding pretty good!

Sounds like she’s in her dressing gown. Like that time I saw her live.

Really enjoyed. Smooth, James Bond type jams. Late night cocktails and sexy eyes.

Actually like this quite a bit.

This is nice. Made in 2000, but going for a Dusty Springfield vibe just with more electronica influences. I like it. Favourite track: “Utopia”

Never heard of this group. I'll be listening to more for sure. Very chill and haunting vocals.

Really good

A very dynamic album, switching up styles almost every song. Songs go from broody and sulking to angelic to Latin inspired, and more.

Lush and atmospheric. A total departure from what I believed Goldfrapp to be.

Varsin hyvin otessaan pitävää musiikkia. Moni levy häipyy helposti taustamusiikiksi, mutta tämä levy piti otteessaan. Hyvällä tavalla kiinnostava ääni laulajalla. Rauhallista ja silkinpehmeää musiikkia, missä on paljon tunnetta. Sellaista vähän parempaa Bond-tunnaria koko levy.

chill

Great album - more of the same please

Música ambiental/electrónica curiosa

J’ai bien aime, c’est special et tres atmospherique. Je n’ai pas entendu beaucoup de chose comme ca. 4.25

Me likey

pleasant

Artsy Trip-hop

James Bond soundtrack :)

I actually really like this! Some very interesting combinations of sounds that come together in a way that's ahead of its time.

I felt that mountain...

Pretty different from everything else I listened to. Very interesting listen.

Very unorthodox and different but good. Angelic voice, a synth sounding like many various instruments and a movie score-like composition

Sort of like Portishead but with a James Bond kinda feel. Not something I’d listen to a lot, but good. Mostly mellow.

I have never heard of Goldfrapp - at all. Thoughts while listening 3 times ... Seems old timey in a way - but also futuristic. Sometimes her voice reminded me of Bjork. Sometimes reminds me of Hooverphonic or Portishead. Very mellow, ethereal but intense kind of vibe. I ended up liking "Lovely Head", "Human", "Pilots", "Deer Stop", "Felt Mountain", "Utopia". It will be interesting to hear these come up on my playlists Liked songs on Spotify: 6/9 Rating: 3/5

ambient electronica with some really interesting string arrangements, a bit more appealing than any of their other material that I've heard.

Medio embole Siento q es el tipo de álbum q escucharía nessa barrett

3★/5 07.01.2026

Goldfrapp’s Felt Mountain starts out sounding like an album of stylish, would‑be Bond themes—sleek, seductive, and very much of its early‑2000s moment. That’s not a knock; the music earns that comparison. But then you hit Oompah Radar, and the whole Bond fantasy just falls apart in your hands. Pierce Brosnan is James Bond 007 in Goldfrapp!

Liked this, quite floaty sounding electronically and a nice vocal

I have heard other Goldfrapp music before, but not this album. And I liked that other stuff with its more poppy techo sound. Less so with this album that's a bit slower and more chill. Still good though.

the top review hit the nail on the head. this alternates between being weird and interesting to incredibly boring.

It’ll put ya to sleep and you’ll still be upset when you wake up.

This is ok, kind of a vibe. Don't know that I will ever listen again tho.

Muy lograda atmósfera. Muy lento todo por momentos. Nota: 3.1

Interesting and hypnotic album that has elements of Portishead. It's also pretty eclectic and unique in its vocal/electronic sounds. Favorite songs are "Lovely Head," " Human," and, especially, "Utopia" which is like some kind of Germany circa 1939 fascist dreamscape. These songs get a bit melodramatic but it's certainly unique.

Kind of equal parts boring and soothing as hell? There are two really interesting songs here, Human and Utopia. The others I almost instantly forgot, but they sounded nice at least. Maybe a good cure for a bout of insomnia, and I mean that in a good way

A little weird, but I didn’t mind it. Probably don’t need to hear it again though. Three stars.

This is fine but I think I’d just listen to Portishead.

I dig it: electronicaxotica works for me. (But Oompah Radar is a big 'ol stupid annoying no: if you bother with carnival nonsense, you don't need to be Tom Waits but you at least need to have an idea.)

ну эээ, норм..

It’s a little too haunting for me. Like little kid ghosts.

Vocals are generally good. Songs very similar, except for the ridiculous “Oompah Radar”, where an alien circus hijacks the proceedings. She probably should have just titled this “Soundtrack for an Alien Melodrama”, which would have provided a more accurate description of the internal contents. Glad to have heard this; don’t need to hear it again.

Never listened. Expectations: Mid - Verdict: Good - I like the trip hop vibe of the first couple tracks. Paper Bag with the hesitant plucked strings is particularly moody. Human is also good. I think the album falls off a little as it goes on after a very strong start. Oompah Radar is different but the album doesn't quite live up to it's potential.

Two days ago upon listening to Beth Orton I wrote: Very listenable without giving me any “wow” factor. Ditto. Just a little less interesting for me.

Seventh Tree is a lot better than this. The whole Nancy Sinatra thing works for her, but the circus music doesn’t.

Like 39 minutes of movie credits.

Sometimes Bond-esque, but sometimes just overwrought. OK if you're in the mood.

A weird album that I hadn't heard anything from before, they really did change their style a lot. I did quite like it but there were some songs I didn't like, my opinion ended up dropping towards the end unfortunately. Just needed a little more, probably won't listen again.

Interesting vibe

Gillade det till en början men tröttnade efter hand.

Bondkompatibelt namn, bondkompatibelt sound.

An album in search of a James Bond title sequence. I thought this was some well put-together music, even if the songs start to blend together after a while.

Nice sound. Enjoyable.

I'm more familiar with later Goldfrapp work, which is a bit livelier than this album. This was very downtempo trip-hop, almost more of an ambient soundscape than anything else. I'm usually a lyrics-first kind of listening, but Alison's voice really is just another texture of the music here and what she's actually singing doesn't really matter. This sounds like a lost James Bond soundtrack from the era when David Arnold was scoring them. I enjoyed this, but definitely prefer my trip-hop by Massive Attack or Portishead.

Electronica, ambient, trip hop, electro-cabaret.

feels like an interlude

Tight & chill. I'm familiar with Goldfrapp, but I guess it was their more electronic stuff.

This was pretty good, calm and relaxing. I liked it pretty much. It's a good one to listen while studying.

Works fine as a downtempo album, but it doesn’t do much more than that for me. 𝘍𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘔𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 has a moody, almost cinematic feel, and it stays consistent throughout, but it also tends to fade into the background after a while. It’s pleasant and well put together, just not something that really holds my attention from start to finish.

Better than silence but I won’t be back. 2.5/5

No idea? Ok. I went in cold and at first I was loving it. I mean sultry voice cinematic soundscape is definitely something I can spend some time with, and I really like weird. I gave Barry Adamson 4 stars! But then the high pitched synths were given what felt like more and more weight. By the end I was ready to stab some Felt. 3 stars. Lucky stars. Had the album been longer the rating would have been lower. Boolean rating: yes, I suppose I appreciate hearing this before I die…

This is niche alternative at its finest. Goldfrapp is an artist looking for a James Bond film to champion. Sultry, interesting, and somewhat sinister. Maybe should could sing for the super villain!

Nice background music...

I only knew Goldfrapp from the song “Ooh La La” after it was featured in Crazy, Stupid, Love. It was fun to hear that they have more tracks, this album felt quite different from the upbeat electronic sound I was expecting. They have a very cool style, with sultry vocals leaning into what many have described as a James Bond–like groove. The downside is that the album starts to feel very samey after a few songs and I was ready for a shift in sound, but they stuck closely to the same formula. Strong 3.

nice sound

This had all the trappings of something I should love. English electro-indie from the early 2000s. But I just didn't connect with it.

Wasn't really feeling it. But I was driving with my kids

This was pretty cool for an electronic pop album. Sounds like it could be a Bond soundtrack.

3.2 What shawns-music1 said

Easy to listen to, but it didn't inspire me to listen to any more

Some moments of real beauty but generally really boring. I love the album cover!

Good, not great.

Trip-Hop James Bond soundtrack songs are not something I am missing from my life. Or, they are missing from my life but that’s because I never wanted them or sought them out. So, they are not in my life, but they aren’t missing. Like they’re not there but I’m not sad about the fact that they’re not there. An absence without any regret associated with said absence. I didn’t like this.

Fine

I enjoyed this a fair bit. Alison Goldfrapp has a good voice, and the music has a nice Bond-style vibe. Three, but right on the upper end.

I got another album of Goldfrapp's that I absolutely loved, but this one is an odd choice for this list. Almost every songs sounds like an attempt at a James Bond style theme song. It just sadly isn't consistent enough in quality, and few odd choices that made me cringe hard. 3.25 / 5

Generally enjoyed the creepy cabaret atmosphere of this album, but only a few tracks stood out to me as memorable. The first track and the last 2. Don't see myself returning tonight again.

Spooky yet calming Likes: Pilots; Utopia

3/5

Lush downtempo electronic and cinematic pop built on sweeping strings, subtle beats, textured synths, and hushed, intimate vocals unfolds with slow, deliberate control. Listening feels like sitting in an arthouse cinema—endless lingering shots where you oscillate between fascination and barely tolerable slowness. The result is immersive and aesthetically striking, but its pacing can feel almost unbearably drawn-out.

Decent listen

Dark, moody, quite relaxing in places. Not all that memorable, and despite being quite pretty in places, did very little to excite me. Weird Harry Potter theme tune near the end. Utopia the best track.

I think I would be forgiven for thinking this record is here because of the introductory song. But to my genuine surprise, the whole album is a pleasant, cohesive experience. It's not something I'd listen to often, but given the right circumstances this is a great record.

The vocals didn't do it for me, which is a shame, because I really did enjoy this gloomy soundscape.

This kinda passed me by. Floaty and electro and surprisingly bland. I didnt give it the attention it deserves so maybe my fault as well.

Bara fínt. Góð vinnutónlist.

6/10

This is the sort of album I joined this project to listen to. Something that would never have hit my radar in any other way. I'm listening to their biggest single, as I write this, and realize I've never even heard it. It was atmospheric. Interesting soundscapes. Interesting vocals

The vocals were good. Obviously she’s talented. The production is also good, a lot of elements going on. But man this is not my style of music. It’s impressive that this came out in 2000 because it sounds way ahead of its time. I’m really conflicted, there are parts I like and I like the moody, dreamy, dark vibe. I just wish there was a louder, dramatic payoff in some of these songs.

Not remotely their best album 🙄

Sommige liedjes saai, sommige goed, een moeilijke

Very pretty but at times it drags on. Standouts: Lovely Head, Paper Bag, Human, Pilots, Utopia

big 3 - utopia

Not unpleasant, but mostly fairly uninteresting. Not too far off from some of the electronic music I have been able to get into over the years, but this doesn't really grab me. The vocals are nice, the music is nice, just not a whole lot that makes me want to listen to it again. The weird effect on "Deer Stop" doesn't work for me. "Utopia" is probably the best song on the album.

I remember Goldfrapp more for their Black Cherry album which was getting a lot of airplay at the time. I never really listened to their albums but was a big fan of the single Train. As far as Felt Mountain goes, this is not something I knew at all, although the opening track sounds so familiar I’m not sure if the music is original or sampled. I was ready for this to wash over me somewhat, it’s the kind of album that could easily pass me by, and it also strikes me that it is impossible to fully appreciate from one listen - it’s ethereal, patient and at times eccentric, particularly Oompah Radar. One to return to, no doubt, but one that probably needs the right mood and I can’t help feeling that I was lucky to catch it in the right mood today.

This album is dreamy and ethereal with an interesting mix of electronic and orchestral instrumentation. The songs have a jazzy, circus vibe and sometimes the music feels eerie and spooky. The cabaret/lounge singer meets trip-hop vibe is interesting and provides a cinematic feel to the music. Most of the songs are very slow and sultry, good for background music or when you’re feeling moody.