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That's what you get from clubbing it. You can't go home to go to bed because it hasn't worn off yet – and now it's morning.
Pulp, Bar Italia
Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory, the duo known to music fans as Goldfrapp, make music that is the perfect soundtrack to coming home from the club. It's the perfect mix of trip-hop beats and singer-songwriter "confessional" lyrics.
But unless you have a DVD player in your car, Wonderful Electric isn't going to be available on that drive home. Taking Goldfrapp out of that atmosphere and making the band recreate its studio sound live kills a lot of its appeal.
Two concerts are presented in the two-disc package:
Live At Somerset
Deep Honey House
Human
Lovely Head
Crystalline Green
Train
Utopia
Tiptoe
Deer Stop
Twist
Strict Machine
Pilots
Slippage
Yes Sir
Black Cherry
Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire
Paper Bag
Human
Deer Stop
Lovely Head
Pilots
Little Death
Felt Mountain
Utopia
U.K. Girls (Physical)
Sartorious
Horse Tears
While providing two full live shows is, in itself, a great idea, there is a lot of overlap between the two shows. Of the 11 tracks performed at Shepherd's Bush, five are also in the Somerset set list. Because of the nature of Goldfrapp's music – very precise, very electronic – there's little room for improvisation, as well, so the two performances are almost note-perfect clones.
While Alison Goldfrapp's voice is perfect for this type of music, and while her vocal range makes Mariah Carey look like a "American Idol" contestant, she is not all that engaging to watch. She comes across as a sober Courtney Love (tough to imagine, I know) at times, but it always seems like a façade rather than what she is really like. She is the lead singer as stripper, in a way – dressing up however you want her to, but keeping as much distance as possible between the listener and her real self.
The DVD
Video:
The picture here is overwhelmingly dark, but it is still fairly easy to make out details in the shadows and low light. It's presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen.
Audio:
Two audio options are available: 5.1 and PCM Stereo. The 5.1 track is respectable, but is missing that all-encompassing sound that can really elevate a concert film. The rear speakers are not as active as one could hope for from such a title.
Extras:
The two main extras are documentaries, one found on either disc. "Twisted Summer" is a fun look at Goldfrapp's tour in support of Black Cherry. Watch Alison Goldfrapp behind the scenes only reinforces how much of her stage persona is an act.
The second documentary, "A Trip to Felt Mountain," is clips of Alison talking while a camera is pointed outside a bus window, watching the land go by. About as interesting as it sounds.
Final Thoughts:
For hardcore fans of Goldfrapp, this is a must-have. For everyone else looking for an introduction to the duo's music, pick up "Black Cherry" first, then return and rent Wonderful Electric. |
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