Though her collaborations with
Tricky
,
Orbital
, and
Add N To X
focused on the sheer beauty and power of her singing, on her debut album
Felt Mountain
Allison Goldfrapp
also explores more straightforward styles. Together with composer/multi-instrumentalist
Will Gregory
Goldfrapp
wraps her unearthly voice around songs that borrow from '60s pop, cabaret, folk, and electronica without sounding derivative or unfocused. From the sci-fi/spy film hybrids
"Human"
and
"Lovely Head"
to the title track's icy purity, the duo strikes a wide variety of poses, giving
a stylized, theatrical feel that never veers into campiness. Though longtime fans of
's voice may wish for more the exuberant, intoxicating side of her sound, lovelorn ballads like
"Pilots,"
"Deer Stop,"
"Horse's Tears"
prove that she is equally able at carrying -- and writing -- more traditional tunes. A strange and beautiful mix of the romantic, eerie, and world-weary,
is one of 2000's most impressive debuts. ~ Heather Phares