ALISON GOLDFRAPP

GATESHEAD GLASSHOUSE ICM THE SYNTH-POP SIREN’S SOLO TOUR IS A JOYOUS CELEBRATION THAT DELIVERS DANCE ANTHEMS APLENTY, THRILLING BOTH THE CROWD AND THE STAR HERSELF

In the 25 years since she teamed up with Will Gregory to form the shapeshifting duo that takes her name, Alison Goldfrapp’s musical output has veered from cinematic soundscapes to scintillating synth-pop, rustic folk to pounding glam rock among others.

However, for her solo debut album last year Alison aimed squarely at the dancefloor. The Love Invention delivered a wave of grooves oozing with sensuality, yearning and sheer euphoria – all clearly designed for consumption in communal ecstasy.

Kicking off her tour at Gateshead’s Glasshouse ICM, the stage is appropriately bathed in cerulean hues for the shimmering opener, In Electric Blue. A commanding figure in a structured black trouser suit embellished with sequinned accents courtesy of Nue Studios, Alison prowls the stage delivering an accomplished 90-minute set in which her new material nestles seamlessly alongside highlights from the Goldfrapp canon plus a few welcome surprises.

The rubbery bassline of NeverStop, Italo house of Gatto Gelato, pulsating throb of So

Hard So Hot and hypnotic charge of Digging Deeper Now all fizz with an effervescence that sees them reach their full potential in a live setting thanks to the backing of a three-piece band and two dancers. With a focus very clearly on creating the ambience of a sweaty club, the BPM rarely drops, with only Number 1, rightfully received as a long-lost classic, lowering the pace.

Of the Goldfrapp inclusions, tempo was obviously paramount when it came to choosing the songs for the setlist. Creating a cohesion with the club-friendly flavour of The Love Invention, the duo’s more upbeat moments are favoured including, most surprisingly, three tracks from Head First, an album that Alison has previously been dismissive of.

Having warmed to it fairly recently, she is unable to hide her delight at the thunderous reception to Rocket. Another big surprise comes with the inclusion of Beautiful – the stomping Supernature-era hidden gem long regarded as a firm fan favourite.

Emerging back onstage having changed into a stunning Alexandre Vauthier jacket, the encore is a non-stop rush of electro-euphoria with Alive slipping into the glam-inflected behemoth Ooh La La. The menacing rumble of Strict

Machine builds to a shattering climax before the Balearicflavoured Fever (This Is The Real Thing) ends the show on a note of pure elation.

A celebration of the old and the new, the most revelatory aspect of tonight’s performance is the evolution of Alison as a performer, which sees her engaging with her audience more than ever before.

Having witnessed Goldfrapp live at various points during the

past two decades, the frustrating lack of audience interaction in many cases has been the only downside to otherwise faultless performances. Whether it’s down to experience or a newfound confidence, the Alison we see here happily compliments fans’ outfits and partakes in banter with the crowd – however awkward (“You’ve still got a Lovely Head, Alison” someone calls out rather embarrassingly), despite admitting to opening night nerves. The icy stage persona may have thawed considerably, but Goldfrapp ends the show with her inherent cool factor still firmly intact. Mark Lindores