While still at Middlesex University, Alison Goldfrapp performed on her friend Tricky's 1995 debut album "Maxinquaye"
and also lent her vocals to Orbital's album "Snivilisation". As she began to write her own music, her demos were passed on
to composer Will Gregory by a few of her friends. Having the same musical tastes and interests, they decided to form a duo
to perform under Alison's last name.
The duo signed to London based record label Mute in 1999
and released their debut album, Felt Mountain, in 2000 to much critical acclaim. The album, produced by PJ Harvey producer
John Parish, features Alison's vocals, partly enhanced by synthesizers, set over a minimalistic, detached soundscape influenced
by styles as diverse as 1980s synth pop, classical film scores and traditional folk music. The album was also nominated for
the 2001 Mercury Music Prize.
In 2003, the band released their second album, Black Cherry, again to critical praise. The
album took Goldfrapp's sound in a very different direction, with pronounced, groovy drum beats and a generally edgier, more
hectic atmosphere. "Black Cherry" peaked at number 19 on the UK albums chart and, like
"Felt Mountain", produced several hit singles which charted in the UK Top 40. The song "Strict
Machine" also managed to achieve minimal success in Canada charting at number
33 and in the USA peaking at number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Chart. Three songs from
the album were used in television commercials: "Strict Machine" and "Train" for the launch of the Game Boy Advance, and "TipToe"
for a Coca-Cola ad. In 2004 following their successful tour in support of "Black Cherry" a digital only EP was released under
the name "Wonderful Electric" which featured four songs recorded live at Somerset House and Shepherds Bush Empire in 2003
and 2001.
In 2003 Goldfrapp's website was awarded the MTV Europe Music Award for best website. The
current version of the website is not the award-winning one, having been redesigned as a precursor to the release of Goldfrapp's
third album, entitled Supernature. The album was released on August 22, 2005, and
carries Goldfrapp's sound further in the direction taken with Black Cherry. "Supernature" contains many disco and glam-rock
influences, which could be see on the albums first single, "Ooh La La", which became Goldfrapp's biggest hit in the singles
chart so far when it reached #4. Next came the second single, "Number 1", charting in the UK Top 10 also. The album not only
received critical praise but also commercial success in the UK and Australia, charting a number 2 on the UK albums chart. "Supernature" is due for release on March 7, 2006 in the United States. Also in 2005, Goldfrapp was nominated for Best Alternative Group/Artist at the
MTV Europe Music Awards.