Goldfrapp return in mellow mode

How nice to have Alison Goldfrapp back, whispering gossamer melodies into our ears like a curly blonde sprite of pop.

The first taster from Goldfrapp's sixth album, Tales Of Us, is called Drew - and it sees the band go back to the pastoral pop of 2008's Seventh Tree album.

In fact, Drew is a very close cousin to that album's opening track, Clowns (except it's not about boob jobs). Opening with a distant piano and barely-there vocal, it coasts along like a hot air balloon, swept gently over the hills by the currents of a sumptuous string quartet. What I'm trying to say is: it's beautiful.

Looking at the track listing for Tales Of Us, it appears that all of the songs are pen portraits of (female?) fictional characters - Jo, Annabel, Thea and Clay nestle up alongside Drew. You might find out more concrete information if you head over to their gig at Somerset House on Saturday. Maybe I'll see you there.

Goldfrapp - Drew

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