Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ditch the disco-diva act and show their earthy side

This article is from the March issue of Radar Magazine. For a risk-free issue, click here

In recent years, British electronica duo Goldfrapp's sexed-up sound has been inescapable. The band's last two albums, 2003's Black Cherry and 2005's Supernature, were licensed to the absolute nubbin, popping up in ads for Diet Coke, Armani, Verizon, and Target, and soundtracks for shows like Grey's Anatomy, Nip/Tuck, Miami Vice, and The L Word. Trust us—you've heard them whether you like it or not.

Partners Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory's glamorous grooves simply clobbered competition like Björk, Massive Attack, and Madonna—whom the Brit press refer to as "Oldfrapp" (Madge even asked the Frapps to do her last record). But rather than try to top their own beats, Goldfrapp have scrapped their deca-dance music altogether for a Summer of Love vibe on their fourth album, Seventh Tree. This veddy British batch of flower-power ballads is all sweet Beatles melodies, Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, and Hounds of Love–era Kate Bush, with Alison's best-ever singing. Of course, Seventh Tree will surely piss off hard-core disco dollies, but think of it as the chilled-out mellow pothead to Supernature's all-night coke whore. (Warning: It could make you want to take up macramé and join the Renaissance Faire.)

The group, featured in this month's print magazine, recently sat down with Radar to chat about musical piracy, fashion faux pas, and exactly how old they are.

The new album, Seventh Tree, is gorgeous. It's very romantic, warm, and a word I usually hate—organic. It's your White Album! Lots of instruments never heard on a Goldfrapp album: harps, acoustic piano, and guitar. Have you gone all hippie?
Alison: Yes!
Will: After coming off the Supernature world tour, our ears were ringing with all the big beats and synths. We wanted to do this as an antidote to that huge sound. So we stripped it down naked.

Last year, you were Grammy nominated for best dance album and dance track. But this album was a departure. You went as far as posting a warning on your MySpace page: "It's very different to [2005's] Supernature, so it might come as a bit of a shock to some of you." Are you afraid of alienating your fan base?
Will: From our first album, Felt Mountain, to Black Cherry, there was a real about-face as well. I think our fans expect that from us now. And always expect the unexpected.
Alison: You are going to alienate someone no matter what you do. If we did do Supernature Part 2, we would lose fans, and the fact that we didn't do that will scare some off as well. You can't win.

You recorded in the countryside, and on the new album there are a few digs at Los Angeles. Do you dislike city living?
Alison: No, we both live in London; we love it. But it's always nice to work out in the countryside where there's peace and quiet and we can focus. I think as humans we need those extremes. It's healthy.

You said that Seventh Tree is influenced by psychedelia, early Pink Floyd, '70s California, and The Wicker Man. Did you see the shitty remake with Nicolas Cage?
Alison: Yes, we prefer the original, thank you. We were asked to do some work on the soundtrack, which luckily we were too busy to do.

The single "A&E" is so happy and sunny sounding, almost Joni Mitchell, but I hear lyrics about pills and wards, emergency rooms.
Alison: It's about how we deal with all of our personal disasters. Sometimes it's just best to grin and bear it and pretend all's well—laughter is the best medicine. We just shot this crazy video with tree and leaf people in the forest, inspired by nature, mysticism, paganism.
Will: That's a lot of isms! What did John Lennon say? "I don't believe in isms, I just believe in me."

We are both old, and we don't go out partying every night, so nobody gives a shit!"Some People" is definitely my favorite—very grand and epic—it's like a musical unto itself! What's that all about?
Alison: After we finished the tour, we went to this big industry do with loads of famous people there whom I won't name, and they all kept asking me how old I was! I don't know why. Was it because they wanted to have sex with me, or was it because I was too old to be at the party? It was very rude.

It'll be great to see these songs performed live. Do you dislike touring? We haven't seen you onstage in a while.
Will: No, I'm usually there, but just not onstage. With our very specific sound, it's sometimes better for me to work on the sound board, in a conductor kind of way, in order to get that balance right. When I'm onstage, it's dead loud and I can't hear how it's all sounding.

There's no comparison in terms of voice or songwriting, but were you annoyed at being compared to Madonna and Kylie Minogue so often?
Alison: Not annoyed so much as being really bored of it. I mean, those two are these specifically dance-floor divas, which is not what I aspire to at all. They can have it.

Here in the States, your last two records were heavily licensed and appeared on many film and television soundtracks, and in commercials for Diet Coke and Target. I picture you as billionaires living in matching mansions in the countryside.
Alison: Unfortunately not. Were it the case that'd be really nice. The record business is suffering so much with sales so low, so it's really hard to get rich that way these days. With illegal downloading—and the new record is already being leaked by you thieving journalists!

Should these pirates be brought to court and hanged?
Alison: Especially if they're journalists.

You're both very private people. How do you feel about the public's need to know the dirty laundry of their idols, and about pop stars like Pete Doherty, Amy Winehouse, or Britney Spears playing out their personal dramas on the world stage?
Alison: Well, that's the world we live in now, this absolute obsession with celebrities, and really bad, can't-look-away car-crash TV, which is what we wrote the song "Clowns" about on the new record. It all appeals to our darkest nature. Both those girls are quite young, and Britney Spears hasn't had much of a life, so she doesn't know any better.

Somehow it worked for her, because Blackout was the number one record in America recently.
Alison: Was it? Well, as for us, we are both old, and we don't go out partying every night, so nobody gives a shit! [Laughs.]

Alison, you are a fashion icon, though not a slave to it. Do designers throw free clothes at you? I expect they all bug you to don their duds. And do you have a favorite designer?
Alison: No, they don't. I wish they would, because I really hate shopping. It's such a chore for me. And I won't play favorites; I'll take it all.

Do you have a fashion tip for your fans?
Alison: Erm, I dunno. Just always do your own thing and wear whatever you want.

Have you ever made a fashion faux pas and regretted an outfit you've worn?
Alison: Oh, God, yes, every last one of them.




This article is from the March issue of Radar Magazine. For a risk-free issue, click here