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The Singles (Goldfrapp album)

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The Singles is a compilation album by English electronic music duo Goldfrapp, released on 3 February 2012 by Mute Records. The album features singles from the duo's five studio albums, as well as two previously unreleased tracks, "Yellow Halo" and "Melancholy Sky".[1]

Background and release

Following the duo's departure from EMI in August 2010,[2] it was confirmed in April 2011 that Goldfrapp had begun work on their sixth studio album.[3] In December 2011 Mute announced that a fourteen-track retrospective compilation titled The Singles would be released on 6 February 2012 by Mute and Parlophone, including the biggest singles from their five studio albums, as well as two brand-new songs, "Melancholy Sky" and "Yellow Halo".[4][5] "Melancholy Sky" was released on 3 January 2012 as the compilation's lead single,[6] while a video for "Yellow Halo" was directed by Lisa Gunning and entirely shot on Gunning's iPhone in South America.[4][7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic85/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[9]
Daily Express4/5[10]
Digital Spy[11]
Drowned in Sound8/10[12]
entertainment.ie[13]
musicOMH[14]
Pitchfork Media8.4/10[15]
PopMatters9/10[16]
Slant Magazine[17]
This Is Fake DIY9/10[18]

The Singles received critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 85, based on 14 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[8] Allmusic editor Heather Phares commented that the album "shows that [the duo's] craftsmanship and good taste may have been their most defining quality." Phares continued, "Their style-hopping sounds less like searching for what will stick and more like the product of two restlessly creative artists who had the talent to do just about anything they wanted and tried a little of everything."[9] Pitchfork Media's Matthew Perpetua wrote that Goldfrapp "have spent the past decade moving back and forth between icy electro-glam and atmospheric balladry, delivering these extremes in tonally consistent albums that dare to alienate listeners who favor one style over the other", noting that The Singles "makes a virtue of their range [...] resulting in a tight hour of their finest material sequenced like a dynamic, eclectic pop album."[15] Matt James of PopMatters commented, "Over the course of five albums, Goldfrapp have proved themselves one of the most imaginative, artistic and entertaining bands of this new century", further stating that the compilation "offers an intriguing introduction to one of Britain's premier pop art bands."[16] Drowned in Sound's David Edwards opined that "the most striking thing from their singles compilation is that within this, they actually managed to craft some rather excellent pieces of pop orientated electronica", adding that on The Singles, Goldfrapp are "exactly how they wanted the world to see them: sleek, intelligent, flirtatious and deliciously off their tits."[12]

Martyn Young of This Is Fake DIY described the compilation as "a triumph of compellingly brilliant classy pop".[18] Jaime Gill of BBC Music raved, "Fourteen songs that veer between the perfect and the merely outstanding, The Singles is proof that Goldfrapp have been the most versatile and most consistently, glitteringly brilliant pop band of our new millennium."[19] In a review for the Daily Express, Simon Gage claimed that the duo "has built up quite a body of work as displayed on this gorgeous little collection", noting that "[w]hile their albums are well-worth discovering and hugely well-received, the singles showcase some excellent work".[10] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy stated that the album "contains 14 of their finest and [...] eye-poppingly brilliant string of releases", concluding, "For over a decade the duo have been writing consistently fantastic pop songs—and here is the proof."[11] Elaine Buckley of entertainment.ie commended the duo for their "wonderful electric stylings" and wrote that "the songs of The Singles are still as impressive as ever." Buckley found "Yellow Halo" to be "somewhat disappointing", but praised "Melancholy Sky" as "instantly charming".[13] Slant Magazine's Matthew Cole, rating the compilation four-and-a-half out of five stars, viewed it as "a terrific showcase for Goldfrapp's versatility, though on the crucial point of whether or not their midtempo and ambient numbers are as essential as their dance hits, it's not entirely convincing." He concluded, "The Singles as a whole feels like a more complete and satisfying journey than either of Goldfrapp's last two albums, progressing confidently from crushing guitar-driven boogie to weightless space pop".[17] John Murphy of musicOMH expressed, "Whereas each of Goldfrapp's albums occasionally had the odd filler track that stopped them from being gilt-edged classics, here we get all the meat and none of the fat [...] there's so much pop sensibility crammed in here that each track sounds almost impossibly fresh."[14]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, except tracks 3 and 9, written by Goldfrapp, Gregory and Nick Batt

No.TitleLength
1."Ooh La La"3:25
2."Number 1"3:25
3."Strict Machine" (Single Mix)3:42
4."Lovely Head"3:47
5."Utopia (Genetically Enriched)"3:51
6."A&E"3:18
7."Happiness" (Single Version)3:37
8."Train"4:11
9."Ride a White Horse" (Single Version)3:44
10."Rocket"3:52
11."Believer"3:44
12."Black Cherry"4:56
13."Yellow Halo"4:42
14."Melancholy Sky"4:28
iTunes Store bonus tracks[20]
No.TitleLength
15."Utopia" (Plaid Remix)4:41
16."Alive" (Cereal Spiller Remix)4:19

Personnel

Credits for The Singles adapted from liner notes.[21]

  • Goldfrapp – arrangement, engineering, production (all tracks); mixing (4, 8, 12); art direction
  • Jonathan Allen – string engineering (6); string engineering (7)
  • Alexander Bălănescu – violin (5)
  • Jim Barr – additional engineering (5)
  • David Bascombe – vocal arrangement (2); mixing (3, 5)
  • Nick Batt – synthesiser (1, 2, 9); additional programming (2–5, 8–12); additional engineering (3, 5, 8, 12); additional synthesiser (3, 7, 8, 12); bass synthesiser (4); additional drum programming (6); additional production and beat (7)
  • Steve Claydon – synthesiser (5)
  • Jon Collyer – additional programming (9)
  • John Dent – mastering (4)
  • Alex Dromgoole – assistant engineering (1, 2)
  • Bruno Ellingham – additional engineering (11); additional programming (13, 14)
  • Tom Elmhirst – mixing (3, 8, 12)
  • David Emery – assistant engineering (1, 2)
  • Steve Evans – acoustic guitar (6)
  • Flood – guitar (6); mixing (6, 14); keyboards (6, 7); additional production and mixing (13); acoustic guitar, sequencer (14)
  • Greg Freeman – drum recording (10, 14)
  • Pascal Gabriel – additional production (10, 11)
  • Tim Goldsworthy – additional programming (10, 11)
  • Stuart Gordon – viola, violin (4)
  • Matty Green – mixing assistant (10, 11)
  • Lee Groves – additional mix programming (1)
  • Tony Hoffer – overdub engineering (6); mixing (7)
  • Nick Ingman – string orchestration and conduction (6, 7, 12)
  • Ted Jensen – mastering (1, 2, 10, 11)
  • Charlie Jones – bass (1, 3, 7, 9, 10, 14)
  • Alex Lee – guitar (10)
  • Mark Linkous – Casio (8)
  • David Lord – additional engineering (5)
  • Ged Lynch – drums (10)
  • Mat Maitland – collage
  • Stephen Marcussen – mastering (6, 7, 13, 14)
  • Mike Marsh – mastering (8, 12)
  • Stephen Marshall – assistant string engineering (6, 7)
  • Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass (6)
  • Metro Voices – choir (7)
  • Daniel Miller – synthesiser (9)
  • Bill Mims – overdub engineering (6); mixing assistant (7)
  • Yoad Nevo – additional programming (3)
  • Jenny O'Grady – choir master (7)
  • Rowen Oliver – additional engineering (6); drums, percussion (8); additional drum programming (12)
  • Tim Oliver – additional engineering (7)
  • Steve Orchard – string engineering and submixing (12)
  • Tony Orrell – drums (5)
  • Daisy Palmer – drums (13, 14); percussion (14)
  • John Parish – drums (4)
  • Ewan Pearson – additional programming (9)
  • Patrick Phillips – mixing assistant (13, 14)
  • Dave Power – additional drums (9)
  • Damon Reece – drums (3, 7); percussion (7)
  • Tim Roe – assistant engineering (2)
  • Davide Rossi – violin (10)
  • Andy Savoun – additional programming, mixing assistant (13, 14)
  • Sonia Slany – violin (5)
  • Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing (1, 2, 10, 11); original mixing (9)
  • Leo Taylor – drums (10)
  • Adrian Utley – guitar (1, 8); bass (4, 8)
  • Ruth Wall – harp samples (6)
  • Chris Weston – additional programming (4, 5)
  • Denny Weston, Jr. – drums (6)
  • Jeremy Wheatley – additional production and mixing (3); single version mixing (9)

Charts

Chart (2012) Peak
position
Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart (Flanders)[22] 8
Belgian Heatseekers Albums Chart (Wallonia)[23] 11
Irish Albums Chart[24] 77
Scottish Albums Chart[25] 37
Swiss Albums Chart[26] 98
UK Albums Chart[27] 33

Release history

Region Date Label Format(s)
Australia[28][29] 3 February 2012 EMI CD, digital download
Germany[30][31]
Ireland[32][33] Mute Records, Parlophone
United Kingdom[1][20] 6 February 2012
Japan[34][35] EMI
United States[36][37] 7 February 2012 Astralwerks, Mute Records
Sweden[38][39] 8 February 2012 EMI
Italy[40][41] 28 February 2012

References

  1. ^ a b "Goldfrapp to release The Singles collection". Mute Records. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Goldfrapp leave label EMI after 10 years". Press Party. 17 November 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  3. ^ Corner, Lewis (11 April 2011). "Goldfrapp 'start work on new album'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  4. ^ a b Murray, Robin (9 December 2011). "Goldfrapp Singles Collection Due". Clash. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. ^ Copsey, Robert (8 December 2011). "Goldfrapp announce 'The Singles' collection". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Melancholy Sky – Single by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  7. ^ Daw, Robbie (8 December 2011). "Goldfrapp's "Yellow Halo" Video, Shot on an iPhone, Premieres". Idolator. Buzz Media. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  8. ^ a b "Goldfrapp – The Singles". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  9. ^ a b Phares, Heather. "The Singles – Goldfrapp". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  10. ^ a b Gage, Simon (2 February 2012). "CD Review: Goldfrapp: The Singles". Daily Express. Northern & Shell Media Publications. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  11. ^ a b Corner, Lewis (7 February 2012). "Goldfrapp: 'The Singles' – Album review". Digital Spy. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  12. ^ a b Edwards, David (31 January 2012). "Goldfrapp – The Singles". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  13. ^ a b Buckley, Elaine (27 January 2012). "Goldfrapp – The Singles". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  14. ^ a b Murphy, John. "Goldfrapp – The Singles". musicOMH. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  15. ^ a b Perpetua, Matthew (9 February 2012). "Goldfrapp: The Singles". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  16. ^ a b James, Matt (17 February 2012). "Goldfrapp: The Singles". PopMatters. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  17. ^ a b Cole, Matthew (5 February 2012). "Goldfrapp: The Singles". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  18. ^ a b Young, Martyn (6 February 2012). "Goldfrapp – The Singles". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  19. ^ Gill, Jaime (1 February 2012). "Review of Goldfrapp – The Singles". BBC Music. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  20. ^ a b "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store UK. Apple. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  21. ^ The Singles (CD liner notes). Goldfrapp. Mute Records. 2012. 5099930116726.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. ^ "Goldfrapp – The Singles" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  23. ^ "Goldfrapp – The Singles" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  24. ^ "Top 100 Individual Artist Albums". Irish Recorded Music Association. 9 February 2012. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  25. ^ "2012 Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  26. ^ "Goldfrapp – The Singles". swisscharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
  27. ^ "2012 Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive". Official Charts Company. 18 February 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  28. ^ "Singles, The – Goldfrapp". JB Hi-Fi. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  29. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store Australia. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  30. ^ "GOLDFRAPP // The Singles" (in German). EMI Music Germany. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  31. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store Germany. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  32. ^ "Goldfrapp – Singles". Tower Records Ireland. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  33. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store Ireland. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  34. ^ ゴールドフラップ (in Japanese). EMI Music Japan. Retrieved 31 March 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store Japan. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  36. ^ "The Singles: Goldfrapp". Amazon.com. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  37. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store US. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  38. ^ "The Singles – Goldfrapp" (in Swedish). CDON.se. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  39. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store Sweden. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  40. ^ "Goldfrapp – The Singles" (in Italian). Internet Bookshop Italia. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  41. ^ "The Singles by Goldfrapp". iTunes Store Italy. Apple. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
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