Goldfrapp have been going strong for well over a decade, supplying everything from lush, dreamy tunes (“Black Cherry,” “A&E”), to bouncy electro anthems (“Rocket,” “Number 1″) to grinding synth ‘n’ sex fests (“Strict Machine,” “Ooh La La”).

Appropriately then, it came as no surprise when Allison Goldfrapp tweeted this morning that the duo would be unleashing their first-ever greatest hits collection on February 6.

The album, entitled The Singles–is a concise, to-the-point collection of the band’s best singles (an essential primer, no doubt). From the official website:

The Singles, is the first compilation from the band, taking in the cinematic electronica of their Mercury shortlisted debut album Felt Mountain, through the electro glam of Black Cherry, the Grammy nominated, half-million selling dance pop of Supernature, the Pagan, electro-folk of Seventh Tree and last year’s, top 10 album, the hands-in-the-air, retro-futuristic Head First.

Above is the cover art for The Singles which–in my estimation–might be the amazing Greatest Hits cover art of all time, featuring elements of every album cover from the band’s entire discography. It’s genius!

The upcoming collection will also include two new songs: “Melancholy Sky” and “Yellow Halo.” Luckily, there’s not much of a wait to hear either track: The group performed “Melancholy Sky” recently at the Mencap Noise Sessions, and the video for “Yellow Halo” was unleashed earlier today.

From Allison’s Twitter:

There is a little film we made while in South America all shot on iPhone ‘Yellow Halo’ is the song x Lisa Gunning made the little film to ‘Yellow Halo’ xxx thanks Lisa! Xxx

“Dawn breaks endlessly, wake up to me/What are you dreaming?” Goldfrapp cooly sighs. Echoed croons and lush instrumentation: It’s like a combination of the electronic elements of 2000′s Felt Mountain and 2008′s gorgeously airy Seventh Tree. Tell me, am I dreaming?

Click “Read More” to see the full tracklisting!

Read more »

Last weekend, my bloggy BFFL Jon ALi and I went on a road trip to Boston. And in between the scream-singing of a majority of Talk That Talk (and some Kat DeLuna, but we’re not talking about that right now), Jon played me some of his favorite mixes from Mademoiselle Gaga‘s brand new remix album: Born This Way: The Remix.

The entire remix package is actually a pretty schweet deal, full of both throbbing, cardio-friendly House cuts and unconventionally moody re-inventions of the originals.

Along with offerings by some of MuuMuse’s favorite acts (including Hurts and Goldfrapp), instant favorites from the bunch include the haunting, dissonant re-rub of “Marry The Night” by The Weeknd & Illangelo, the brooding Depeche Mode-esque “Bloody Mary” mix by The Horrors and the reliably amazing throbbing mix of “Edge of Glory” by Sultan & Ned Shepard (who’ve worked on countless smashes with MuuMuse favorite Nadia Ali).

But my all-time favorite of the bunch so far is “Electric Chapel,” a track I’d never paid much attention to when listening to Born This Way. As it turns out, the remix was crafted by Two Door Cinema Club, the UK indie-pop trio that I “Introduuced” in the early, early days of MuuMuse back around January of ’09. (I know…positively ancient!)

As Jon explained before hitting play, the “Electric Chapel” mix is basically the ultimate stripper anthem. In fact, I’ve already assembled a tasteful nun habit to perform the mix during my nightly revue at The Cock, so watch out for that.

ANYWAY…

To celebrate the release, MuuMuse is giving away FIVE COPIES of Born This Way: The Remix.

To enter to win, follow me on Twitter (@MuuMuse) and tweet me with the following phrase:

I want to be born again with @MuuMuse! #BornThisWayTheRemix http://bit.ly/uBEEUi

Five winners will be selected and notified on Tuesday, November 29. US entries only, please.

NOW DANCE, YOU MOTHERFUCKERS.

Born This Way: The Remix was released on November 21. (iTunes)

Genre: Dream-pop, synth-pop, electronica
Sounds like: Goldfrapp, Bat For Lashes, Empire Of The Sun

Meet UK songstress Eleanor Bodenham and Martin Craft, a London-based singer-songwriter who previously played guitar for years alongside Jarvis Cocker.

Together–along with the reliably gorgeous production skills of Aussie electro-pop troupe Empire Of The Sun‘s Nick Littlemore–the two make up Lover Lover, a sparkling, lush pop outfit.

“Freebirds” is the debut single by the duo, which is set to be released on April 25 by Cross Keys Records.

Kicking in with a bass line similar to the opening moments of Stevie Nicks‘ “Edge of Seventeen,” Lover Lover’s debut effort is a free-flowing breeze of cool summer air, as Bodenham’s rich vocals–carrying traces of Debbie Harry and Marianne Faithfull–coolly drift on top of the shimmering number.

“Freebirds fly away / they just don’t stay, they just don’t stay,” Bodenham croons on repeat as the beat strolls along; hazy ’80′s synthesizers occasionally piercing through the otherwise melancholy production.

Similar to the work on Goldfrapp‘s gorgeous 2008 release Seventh Tree, “Freebirds” a little bit country, a sprinkle of airy French pop, and just a dash of sad disco all rolled into one–a combination that is most definitely MuuMuse Approved.

“Freebirds” will be released as a limited edition 7” vinyl, as well as for download. For more information on the group, check out their official website.

It’s time for a brand new MuuCast!

Fair warning: This isn’t a collection of juicy booty bangers or sizzling electro stompers–instead, it’s the stuff of dreams.

Inspired by my recent longing to travel, plenty of downtime and perhaps a touch of the holiday blues, I now present MuuCast Episode 7: Miles Away, a sampling of songs with one idea in mind: To take you far, far away.

Music’s always been an escape for me, but the following collection inspires an especially strong sense of wanderlust. It’s the music I listen to when I’m looking for inspiration, feeling emotional, or–most often of all–when I’m preparing to drift into slumberville.

The playlist begins with El Perro Del Mar‘s “Change Of Heart,” my definitive come-down anthem for dulling the sound of loud drunks and creepy scumbags while riding the last train home out of Grand Central at 2 A.M., and closes with one of my all time favorites, Duke B‘s “Hey You (feat. Angela McCluskey),” which is one of the most haunting and beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. (It also makes an appearance on MuuCast Episode Three!)

Regardless, it’s yours to keep. I hope you enjoy the escape!

…And the semi-awkward spoken word introduction.

DL: MuuCast Episode 7: Miles Away

Oh, and apologies for no actual Utada on the tracklisting–I just thought her cover for Single Collection Volume 2 made a perfect match for the MuuCast’s mood!

To see the full tracklisting, click “Read More”!

Read More…

Still hot from the Internet-killing, bandwidth-shattering success of yesterday’s Top 40 Albums of 2010 list (including a most major of giveaways, in which I’m giving away ALL TEN ALBUMS that made the Top 10 of the list–you still have time to enter up until January 2!), I now present MuuMuse’s Top 50 singles of 2010.

There were a lot of good songs released during the year. A lot of them didn’t end up making the list. It’s entirely unjust and profoundly disturbing to think about, but what can you do?

I don’t feel like explaining my choices…SO I WON’T. Why? Because I am such a fucking rebel. GO TIME!

LET’S GO!!!1!!

That Mandler‘s gone and done it again: The director and longtime collaborator for Rihanna (“Unfaithful”; “Disturbia”; “Russian Roulette”) has added yet another solid production to the ever-expanding RiRepetoire.

Although the song’s pumping Euro-beats might have suggested we’d be getting something with a bit more of a crunch, it’s so nice to watch the pop princess get all cutesy with herself. After all, she’s such a fuckin’ lady.

Instead, the video for “Only Girl (In The World)” shines in its simplicity. Thanks to the warm, muted color palette that’s come to define Mandler’s work, RiRi blossoms amongst the flowers and leaves, bringing to mind the nature-inspired album art for Goldfrapp‘s Seventh Tree campaign.

Aside from the video’s stunning photo-finish complete with fireworks and lanterns (a bit of a Kelis nod, yes?), the best moment comes ’round the 2:15 mark, where the singer lets loose on top of a mountain ledge and howls the song’s almighty chorus into the wind. Simple, gorgeous, effective…

Perfection.

Do you like vampires? Do you like diaries? PERFECT. This contest is just for you!

Today, The Vampire Diaries soundtrack is being unleashed upon the world, which features songs from such MuuMuse favorites as Bat For Lashes (“Sleep Alone”), Goldfrapp (“We Radiate”), and of course, Sky Ferreira (“Obsession”).

Now let us watch a fun trailer for the series that combines the excellence of Sky Ferreira with the sexual tension and sultry allure of The Vampire Diaries:

To celebrate this release, MuuMuse is proud to be giving away a copy of The Vampire Diaries soundtrack.

To enter to win, all you’ve got to do is…SHOW ME YOUR TEETH! Yes, you heard me: Show me your teeth (in my inbox with the subject line “TEETH”) or tweet me a TwitPic and you’ll be automatically entered to win a copy of the soundtrack.

A winner will then be selected and notified on Tuesday, October 19.

Enter now! It’s going to be a bloody good time.

Original Television Soundtrack: The Vampire Diaries featuring the hit single “Obsession” by Sky Ferreira is available everywhere today (October 12th). (iTunes)

For more from Lady Ferreira, check her out on iTunes or on her official website.

Now this I was not expecting: Alison Goldfrapp makes a truly obvious, stereotypical break-up video.

It’s that age-old tale: the really bad break-up where, after a few spats and some spilled tea or whatnot, you bind your ex-lover in duct tape, kidnap them, hitch a 16-wheeler with a massive rocket, tape them onto said rocket with the help of a few super sexy space nymphs and, without any remorse, send them hurtling into the stratosphere never to be seen or heard from again.

I mean, we’ve all been there.

Kidding! It’s amazing; exceptional even. The video is wonderful delight, like a Misery-meets-Xanadu surprise.