Friday, September 26, 2008 THE AGE 5 The Drones (from left): Michael Noga, LISON Goldfrapp’s long-held and the most left-fi eld thing we’d ever Dan Luscombe, Gareth Liddiard and Fiona reputation in the media has done”. Kitschin. been “diffi cult to deal with”. Though stylistically different from PICTURE: REBECCA HALLAS AThe 42-year-old pop star and Goldfrapp’s recent past, Seventh Tree Inset: Liddiard and Luscombe writing leader of the electro-ish English duo treads similar lyrical ideas. “On every songs for Havilah at Liddiard’s property that bears her name dares to be that album, the themes are always the outside Myrtleford. most contentious of beasts: a woman same: sex, relationships, nature, and with an opinion. So scribes have spent what it is to be human,” the singer PICTURE: DANIEL CAMPBELL years implying, essentially, that she’s says. “Those are the themes on all the a bitch. albums; the elemental themes of being “Many journalists are really, alive, really.” OT many musicians have quit really lame,” Goldfrapp says, in her Such subject matter is, Goldfrapp Paul Kelly’s band, but that’s what justifi able defence. “They’re just clarifi es, just the starting point. “It’s N Luscombe did when he got the not that intelligent, or are naturally like, if you get into telephones,” she offer from the Drones to replace Rui really boring. Some people are really says, using what she describes as a Pereira. fawning, telling you you’re a style “ridiculous example”. “It wasn’t an easy decision, because icon. Other journalists deliberately “Once you start looking at I really enjoyed working with Paul,” want to provoke you in some way or telephones, other ideas come out said Luscombe, who has also played another, trying to get you to say certain of that thing: numerology, wires, with singers such as Spencer P. Jones, incriminating things.” In fine voice disembodied experience,” Goldfrapp Ian Rilen, Brian Hooper and Dan Like what? “I’m not even going to continues, undaunted. “Any time you Kelly. say,” Goldfrapp replies. From stodgy interviews to sweet inspiration, have one idea, or one theme, other “He said to me, ‘If it was any But, surely, she’s had inspired ideas will always grow out of that. other band, I would be curious as to conversations that have brought to light the forthright Alison Goldfrapp speaks her That’s what’s exciting: being surprised. why you were doing it, but for the new ideas about her music? “Very, mind to Anthony Carew. I love being surprised.” Drones, I understand and you have my very, very, very rarely,” she says. “That’s Which is why interviews don’t cut blessing.’ ” probably happened to me, like, twice in it? “They’re rarely surprising, and, if Luscombe recalls being “blown the last 10 years. Interviews aren’t the But that’s not the case. “At our fi rst live and mutant disco (2003’s Black so, often only in a bad way,” Goldfrapp away” the fi rst time he saw the band most natural of conversations, if they’re shows I was absolutely petrifi ed,” she Cherry, 2005’s Supernature), this says. Admitting that the next notion is soon after they arrived from Perth at even conversations at all. Sometimes says. year’s sunkissed Seventh Tree found pretty silly, too, Goldfrapp says she and North Melbourne’s Town Hall Hotel. it’s fi ne, but oftentimes it’s a pain in the “The whole experience was like Goldfrapp returning to string-draped Gregory “aim to be surprised”. “When they fi rst started playing arse. Like anything else in life.” being in a car crash: your whole life balladry. So how, exactly, does one do that? in Melbourne, they looked like they Goldfrapp is handling painful fl ashing before you in this insane rush, “When we were writing the record, “I don’t know if you actually can,” had been washed in from a storm. promotional duties in anticipation of but you’re paralysed with fear.” people were asking us what did it Goldfrapp chuckles. “But sometimes They looked like they needed soup,” her band’s second Australian tour. If Having come to attention in the sound like, and the easiest (thing) was I’ll sing something and think: ‘God! said Luscombe, who later lived with the meet-and-greets of the business ’90s for her vocal work with electronic to say: ‘It’s a bit like Felt Mountain, but I haven’t sounded like that before! Liddiard in Northcote and briefl y leave her cold, on stage she shines. “I acts Orbital, Tricky, and Add N To it’s completely different’,” Goldfrapp That’s weird!’ We spend quite a lot of played with him in Dan Kelly and the absolutely adore playing live,” she says. (X), Goldfrapp debuted her own says. “When we started this album, we time laughing at what we do, actually. Alpha Males. “There’s something really special about project with 2000’s Felt Mountain. wanted to put back that space that the Which is great. Without being able “There weren’t many bands around performing these songs that you’ve Heavily indebted to the scores of fi rst album had. Not putting any beats to laugh at yourselves, and without Melbourne at the time that I was written. It’s like the culmination of a Ennio Morricone and John Barry, the on this record was a big part of that.” surprises, life would be pretty dull, convinced by. Gareth was just plugged journey: imagining an idea, making it album — the work of the vocalist and When the band played it to wouldn’t it?” into something. I had no idea what he into sound, then performing it. It’s a her bandmate Will Gregory — was Mute Records founder Daniel was singing about at fi rst, but I could wonderful process.” a stirring collection of windswept, Miller, Goldfrapp recounts, “he said Goldfrapp play tonight at the Palais Theatre tell what he was singing was quite Goldfrapp is such a striking stage orchestral torch-songs. he thought it was both the most and on Sunday as part of the Parklife important, and I wanted to know more. presence she seems a born performer. After two albums of glossy glam commercial thing we’d ever done, Festival at Birrarung Marr. And he has the most incredible guitar style. There was a lack of self-awareness that I’ve always noticed about the group. Once they start playing, the audience are bystanders.” But very fussy bystanders. In fact, the band are still trying to come to terms with the level of fanaticism of their fans. From meetings “Every time we put out a record we think, ‘Oh, they are going to so hate it’, ” Kitschin says. “When we put out Wait Long we thought, ‘People that like us will think we’re soft.’ And the same to myspace with Gala Mill. “I only own one Van Morrison album,” adds Liddiard, “and I’m happy with that one, I don’t need the rest. I’m happy for someone to pick out their Free* Nokia E71 with loads of (one) Drones album and stick with that.” email and mobile internet In Britain, the band have found already included^ on a way to cut their touring schedule and tap straight into their fan base Vodafone’s new $69 Cap by signing with fl edgling label and boutique festival company ATP (All Tomorrow’s Parties). “It’s been really handy in England,” says Liddiard. “It means we don’t have to tour so much. The whole industry over there is based on pop and trends and NME, and to be able to play at a festival that is entirely about the music, and not the haircuts, is wonderful. And we go straight to the source with the crowds there.” The band don’t know whether Havilah is better or worse than previous releases; it simply captures a moment in time. “The album’s just different,” says Kitschin. “It’s not representative of where we are or anything, it’s just the album we made.” “It’s not like we stand around jamming every day and talk about a new direction,” says Liddiard. “We just had a fortnight to make a record and The Nokia E71 has a unique switching mode that allows you to switch from work to play at the touch we went for it.” of a button. Plus, get it free* on Vodafone’s new $69 Cap over 24 months. So head into Vodafone today. The Drones play the Forum Theatre on Offer subject to change and available while stocks last. *Minimum monthly spend is $69. Minimum cost to approved customer over 24 months is $1656. Early Exit Fee: $34.50 x months left on the contract. Some calls Saturday, October 18, and the Falls and services excluded. Handset locked to the Vodafone network. Handset RRP $649. ^$69 Cap includes credit for 360 minutes, 50 TXTs and 250MB email and internet access per month. Unused Included Value expires at the end of each month. Some calls and services excluded. All Vodafone services including Vodafone live! with 3G subject to network availability and handset capabilities. Myspace available on Vodafone live! with 3G. Festival on December 31. Havilah is out 3G available in selected metro areas of most capital cities and selected parts of the NSW Central Coast, Gold & Sunshine Coasts. 3G capable handsets required. Not available in TAS or NT. Customers with 2.5G handsets through ATP and MGM. will only be able to access limited content.