16 CITYLIFE MUSIC FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2014 M.E.N. ‘THE MUSIC BECOMES A CREATIVE GENE POOL, A STORm’ ALISON GOLDFRAPP AND WILL GREGORY SPEAK TO SARAH WALTERS ABOUT THEIR NEW ALBUM AND TOUR AND THEIR FIRST VENTURE ONTO THE SILVER SCREEN FOR A ONE-OFF SHOWCASE OF MINI MOVIES ●●Alison Goldfrapp and below with musical partner Will Gregory ERFECTION- “I demanded I had my in a trilogy of records for the band to visualise remain unfazed. “It’s a UK, Europe, America and lover ‘Dave’ – a story that ISM has bedroom painted red. linked by mood and the songs and their way to do something we Australia. resulted in song Clay. been Alison My dad did paint it red theme that started with stories. “These cinema can’t do on tour,” Will In Manchester, the “On past albums, I’ve Goldfrapp’s for me – ceilings and all. first album Felt Mountain events are becoming a adds. “Something that’s Odeon Printworks, Vue probably referred more to most Christ,” she laughs, “what and then 2008’s Seventh popular way for people visually interesting.” Manchester at the Lowry personal experience and controversial a nightmare child I was.” Tree. Nor is it the first to see things they Alison agrees: “The music Outlet Mall in Salford made them into some Ptrait. On one hand, her Will chuckles. “I’ve got spiritually stirring place wouldn’t normally have becomes a creative gene Quays and at Cineworld other sort of story,” Alison clear and rounded artistic a youngster now and the they’ve played it; the the opportunity to see,” pool, a storm.” Didsbury will show it. explains. vision, in conjunction imagination is like reality record debuted live at says Alison. “I know a So far, only two of the Surprisingly accessible “But on this album, I with the musical for them,” he enthuses. last year’s Manchester couple of people who films from the half hour locations for such an didn’t want to focus on virtuosity of Will Gregory, “There isn’t a divide; it’d International Festival, have been to see opera in movie have been seen: arthouse presentation, me at all, I was bored has resulted in one of be good if everyone could in the majestic former the cinema, for example. the videos for Drew and but then Goldfrapp of that and it was much the most compelling keep that going. At some chapel, the Albert Hall. It is quite a mad thing to Annabel. Three more have never been an more interesting to delve catalogues of work by a point you become aware But this will be quite do, logistically – and it’s – following stories in underground concern; into these characters and British band. reality and imagination different. No huge string unknown territory for us.” Stranger, Laurel and Jo at times they’ve been their lives. On the other, it has are two separate things section or choirs in the Uncharted maybe, – will also be shown to a positive hit machine, “But even when you’re made her look aloof, – and that is a sad balcony. Just the chance but Will and Alison a global audience in the firing out singles Train, writing about something capricious, irascible even. moment.” Strict Machine, Ooh La else, everything is really a And in a positive way, The doll is the first La, Number 1, Ride A mirror of you.” there’s probably an thing Alison remembers White Horse, A&E and Will agrees: “You can’t element of truth in those sparking her creative Happiness. stop something being descriptions, too; she’s juices. And some 40 years Tales Of Us though, about you. That’s the a formidable figure, still later she’s still making which Goldfrapp bring thing about music: it’s drop-dead gorgeous tough demands – the back up north to The difficult to hide because and super stylish at latest, putting her and Lowry on March 27 it’s so direct, but its also 47, with a palpable air Will on the silver screen (two days after Alison’s beautifully nonspecific. of rebelliousness and for a one-off showcase gallery show, part of the “You can be determination. of mini movies made Performer As Curator outrageous, honest, It has always been to accompany select series, closes), is less vulgar and possibly a thus, confesses Alison songs from their latest about anthems and more little bit obscene. Because when she and Will talk album, Tales Of Us, plus about narratives. It is, too, nobody knows what it all to CityLife about their a 50-minute real-time a chance to reflect on a means.” impending cinema début transmission of the marvel – that, by chance, and national tour. “I was band performing live at Alison should have ●●Tales Of Us is in cinemas about five and I had a London’s AIR Studios, Sir stumbled on many of the on Tuesday, 7.30pm – Japanese doll this guy George Martin’s baby. stories that inspired her visit individual cinema my dad knew gave me It’s not the first ‘event’ all at once, particularly websites for tickets/prices. that sparked off a whole style presentation of their the letter written by Then, live at The Lowry, obsession with the colour melancholic masterpiece Second World War soldier March 27, £20.50-£31.50. red,” she recalls. – in some ways, the third Brian Keith to his gay W: thelowry.com.