Goldfrapp, Royal Albert Hall

Synth-pop experimenters Goldfrapp to play Royal Albert Hall on November 18

For the past fifteen years, electronic duo Goldfrapp have been pushing the boundaries of synth-pop. They first arrived in 2000 with Felt Mountain , an alluring debut characterised by Alison Goldfrapp’s sultry, quasi-operatic vocals and Will Gregory’s luscious synth arrangements. Songs like ‘Lovely Head’ and ‘Utopia’ crackled with tension and mystery, and were met with understandable critical interest.

Since then, the duo have teased out the influences that were latent in this early release: new-wave, folk and, most interestingly, cabaret. Their music, however, never feels coldly cerebral, and as singles like ‘Ooh La La’ prove, they are more than capable of writing infectious, anthemic dance-pop.

Goldfrapp’s most recent album, Tales of Us, was released last year and represents their most mature work to date. The album is a rich soundscape, more concerned with mood and space than their earlier work; at points, it seems more like a film score than a traditional album.

The duo have a keen eye for the visual, and have experimented with video work. This concern is born out in their spectacular live performances; the choreography is considered, and Allison’s outfits gloriously strange. The Royal Albert Hall is a perfect venue for this spectacle; tickets go on sale on August 29 for their performance on November 18. they’re sure to sell quickly.