Welcome to music 2.0. Or not.
Varun Nangia | Vienna, VA, USA | 03/02/2008
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of Alison and Will's work for longer than I knew I was. It just took a few singles and years to realize that they were behind some of my favourite pieces of music.
So I was awaiting Seventh Tree with some anticipation. But after hearing the first single in music video form, I was sure that the end was nigh. Compared to the pulsing original beats mixed with the very best of synthesizers that defined Supernature, A&E sounded commercial, boring and, dare I say it, musically bankrupt. As with so many of my favourite bands over the years, it seemed that Goldfrapp had come to the end of the line. So it was with some trepidation that I bought the single over on AmazonMP3.com, fully expecting to pull my hair out in frustration.
Well, I do have something of a bald spot now.
A&E is, in fact, musically bankrupt. Fluffy instrumental junk. But then, a small miracle! Yes, the Gui Boratto remixes! They redeemed my faith in the single. Designed for the dance floor, they make for fantastic driving music, and they can be used to concentrate on a particularly difficult project. Quickly, the two remixes rose through my list of most played, and now sit comfortably near the top of the list. On the other hand, I found the other remix - the Hercules mix - utterly distracting. You might as well have Deepak Chopra reciting some fluffy new age feel good stuff as background.
Which brings me to title of this review: welcome to music 2.0. In music 2.0, established artists such as Goldfrapp will release music that is unfinished. Lacking original beats, great melodies and catchy hooks, these pieces will provide some grounding and foundation for the more talented DJs amongst the masses to create the most innovative and original pieces by adding beats, melodies and hooks that most appeal to them. Then these pieces will fly across the tubes of the internet to other like minded folk, who will download and enjoy these wonderful remixed works of art. Or most likely, not, considering the RIAA and IFPI and their stance on "their" music. Thus will end the short lived music 2.0 experiment that I think this album is meant to spur. C'est la vie.
So in the end, enjoy the two Gui Boratto remixes - the closest I've been to the excitement that Goldfrapp inspired in their Ooh La La heyday. The rest of the album is a bankrupt product not worth purchasing. Two stars out of five for the two songs out of five that have any hope."
Great remixes!
Phaedra | 03/02/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I was not crazy about the A&E song itself, but these are really interesting remixes. Certainly great for dancefloor but also good for listening on their own.
The only one that does not work too well is the last track, it has some sort of irritating tribal chorus thrown in. The other tracks are among the best Goldfrapp remixes released so far. I was overall disappointed with the Seventh Tree album, it was too slick and lightweight, this single was a very nice surprise. I guess this is quite a feat, it works for the people who really liked the A&E song in the first place, and would enjoy more versions, but it also works for people like me who sort of liked it, but wanted something different.
This is a great catch, for fans of Goldfrapp or just fans of good dance music, and it is well worth the price for the download. Actually the cover is very beautiful and whimsical, too, the Seventh Tree was little strange..."
Track Listings (5) - Disc #1