Tuesday 21/02/06 Goldfrapp, Hot Chip @ Liverpool Academy

Hot chip are a little strange…don’t take that the wrong way, they are ****ing stomping with it…but a little odd. First up they are arranged in such a way that would have The Human League seething with envy at their perfectly formed line jam packed with guitars and synthesisers. Secondly they look like two bands that have been merged into one. Three of them look like they should be on University Challenge; all shirts and ties while the remaining two members look like extra’s on the run from Emmerdale…but it’s the music that matters.

And the music is something that would lead even Woolpack regulars to shake their booty. The beats are fierce and everyone crowds around the stage in a hypnotic state ‘feel the bass maaaaan!’ silently congratulating the main act for their choice of support. Hopefully 2006 will be THE year for these guys…they and their funky tunes deserve it.

Despite being the hottest chips around the support was never going to eclipse the main act…and as Alison Goldfrapp takes to the stage all eyes are on her, her pink cape and silver platforms, this girl has got style. Kicking off with a glut of tunes from their critically acclaimed second album ‘Supernature’ the band show off their extremely slick set up that features numerous keyboards, a few computers, about 10 electric violins, keytairs and numerous other crazy instruments that probably don’t even have real names.

The fans are out in force tonight; every song is followed by a good few minutes of ferocious clapping leaving the band a little overwhelmed and the atmosphere electric. New tracks are welcomed while old tracks are embraced like old friends. ‘Ride A White Horse’, ‘Koko’ and ‘You Never Know’ are all quintessential Goldfrapp tracks and although they haven’t exactly attempted to stretch themselves with ‘Supernature’ who can blame them when the response is this good.

The same heavy beats are softened by Alison’s often operatic like, smooth as silk voice while vocal distortion and dirty electronic effects complicate and add depth to the simple melodies under pinning every track. However, there is no doubt about which song stands out on ‘Supernature.’ At ‘Ooh La La’ the crowd does its best pogo impression and forgets for a moment that Goldfrapp sold their ass to a mobile phone company. Goldfrapp live are a visual treat, and it’s not all about Alison. The violinist come keyboard come keytair player dances around the stage atop green light boxes while the ‘official’ keyboard players is pretty much tap dancing on her instrument, they are clearly loving it as much as the crowd. 

After returning to the stage after an extremely short break Goldfrapp return to perform the still breathtakingly beautiful ‘Black Cherry’ and ‘Number 1’, the crowd quite rightly goes wild leaving Ms Goldfrapp emotional. They return to bang out ‘Strict Machine’, and to profusely thank the crowd “You’ve been amazing!” she says choked…before leaving for good, quite rightly, very pleased with herself.