silent under the needle in the interims, and the music is all where it should be in terms of detail and power.

That's assuming you can understand Goldfrapp's lyrics in the first place, since she mumbles incoherently and is muffled under a swampy mix through half the record, which only highlights the feeling of sleepy halfheartedness.

They don't come much more well-worn than pilfering the slippery funk and cinematic strings of Serge Gainsbourg's Melody Nelson, yet Cologne Cerrone Houdini is a delight: a slow, sensual drift of a song, further enlivened by Goldfrapp's intriguing decision to sink zer verses in a Cherman accent. Over a perfectly balanced soundtrack of strings and guitars Alison mumbles something about large balloons being played with by clowns. Does that look from Alison tell us that she is walking away from her glam period and wondering nervously if we will follow? John Murphy of musicOMH viewed it as Goldfrapp's "most subtle, affecting and rewarding album to date" and compared it to Kate Bush and the Cocteau Twins.

Nate Patrin of Pitchfork was less impressed, stating that the album's ambience is "so subtle and slow-moving it doesn't seem to go anywhere, and it coasts on some frothy sense of pleasantness that evaporates the moment the song ends. Not only did I pay this one used for 5 dollars, but it also came in a beautiful mini box digipack set. Each Goldfrapp album is like a different wardrobe to wear and Seventh Tree presents it's own unique weaving of colorful fabrics and cloths. Pitchfork may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers.However, Seventh Tree isn't so much a radical change for Goldfrapp as it is a shift in focus; even if it doesn't sound glam, it sounds glamorous. The album artwork depicted Goldfrapp dressed as a clown and hugging a tree, as well as Gregory dressed as an owl. At AllMusic, Heather Phares praised the album's "electro hippie-chic" as the duo's "most polished and luxe work yet". After spending years on the dancefloor with Black Cherry and Supernature, Goldfrapp take a breather with Seventh Tree.

It's also a move that few who came in during the last album would've imagined, but in the grand scheme of all things Goldfrapp, it makes perfect sense. I know this is antique music now, and that Goldfrapp have consistently experimented with new forms just for the hell of it and folk rock is a box now firmly ticked - but this is a great album in many, many ways. In practise, this means much of Seventh Tree goes where earlier Gainsbourg disciples such as Air have gone before: chilled-out, soporific electronica with a light organic edge. postcards containing unseen photos included alternate shot of the owlman, and Allison standing in a cute polka dot uniform alongside a horse behind a tree. Other than that, it arrived when it should have (Friday's day of release), and I saved it for a nice Saturday morning listen with biscuits.So it's more esoteric than Felt Mountain (and that's just my opinion, just so ya know cause I love that CD too for it has it's own special mystery). Originally released in February 2008, Seventh Tree has been out of print for many years and will be reissued here as a yellow vinyl pressing with the original artwork by Alison Goldfrapp and Mat Maitland with photos by Serge Lebon, packaged in a gatefold sleeve and full colour inner sleeve with lyrics, an art print and exclusive to MuteBank an A1 poster as featured on the original pressing. Avoiding the glammy dance-pop of the duo's previous two albums is a bit of a risk, since Goldfrapp could probably make endless variations on Ooh La La and still have plenty of fans.

Quite what the lyrics are driving at remains a mystery - they could just be a load of old bollerghs - but notice of a musical volte-face is duly served. This is not Goldfrapp Unplugged, although acoustic guitars and strings waft in and out of the album effortlessly - if anything, Seventh Tree's electro hippie-chic is the duo's most polished and luxe work yet.Sonic luxury has been the only constant in the duo's sound, from Felt Mountain's darkly lavish soundscapes to Black Cherry and Supernature's decadent dance hits, and there's plenty of it here, too.