musicAddicted

It’s quite strange to have a band like Goldfrapp releasing a best-of their singles: a thing they were opposing for an entire decade of their career. Whatever you think of compilations – in this British duo’s case simply named The Singles – one can’t deny their career has been rich on surprising moments and inspiring turn-arounds. After the decadent imaginative utopia of Felt Mountain came even darker Black Cherry followed by top-notch pop of Supernature. Then came a calm and balladry Seventh Tree after which we were served with a 80s kitsch of Head First. From the release of best-of, instead of a studio album, I assume Goldfrapp are bit tired of composing, recording and coming with new genres that will be adopted by mainstream scene two or three years later.

Anyway, here comes a studio version of Yellow Halo, one of two fresh, new songs put to the end of The Singles (see tracklist). Based on the above-mentioned assumptions, Yellow Halo is a mid-tempo ethereal ballad which sounds tired and not as inspiring as their earlier songs. Alison’s soft whispery voice is incredibly warm and silky, but the lyrics are bit repetitive and flat. The arrangements follow the suite with celebratory, but minimalist pomp of something ending. As if they were saying: “we need a break and this is a temporary farewell.” Yellow Halo sits somewhere between Supernature’s ‘Time Out from the World’ and pretty much half of Seventh Tree, including that autumn-like haze. The song itself is nice, cozy and reflective, but somehow weaker than Goldfrapp we’ve used to know.