The Love Invention is the debut solo studio album by British singer and musician Alison Goldfrapp. It was released on 12 May 2023 as her first full-length project under her own name, away from her efforts as part of electropop duo Goldfrapp. Singles from the album include "Digging Deeper" featuring Claptone, "Fever" featuring Paul Woolford, and "So Hard So Hot".

The Love Invention
Studio album by
Released12 May 2023 (2023-05-12)
Recorded2021–2023
Studio
  • Miloco (London)
  • London Lane (London)
GenreSynth disco[1]
Length46:50
LabelSkint
Producer
Singles from The Love Invention
  1. "Digging Deeper"
    Released: 19 January 2023
  2. "Fever"
    Released: 16 February 2023
  3. "So Hard So Hot"
    Released: 16 March 2023
  4. "NeverStop"
    Released: 14 April 2023[2]
  5. "Love Invention"
    Released: 28 April 2023[3]
  6. "In Electric Blue"
    Released: 7 June 2023[4]

Background and promotion

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Towards the end of 2019, Goldfrapp and Will Gregory were to due to mark the 20th anniversary of their debut album Felt Mountain with the Felt Mountain: The 20th Year Tour in March and April 2020.[5] However, due to the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the tour was postponed[6] and eventually rescheduled to 2022.[7]

During the pandemic, Goldfrapp began working on solo music. In 2022, she appeared on the single "Impossible" with Norwegian duo Röyksopp. It was her first release credited to her full name.[8] The song featured on the duo's 2022 album Profound Mysteries.[9] Goldfrapp also appeared on "The Night" on Profound Mysteries III, released the same year.

Singles

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In March 2023, she released "So Hard So Hot", the first official single from the album.[10]

"Digging Deeper", featuring German duo Claptone, was released as a promotional single on 19 January 2023. "Fever", with Paul Woolford, was released the following month.[11] Goldfrapp later described them as "collaborative remixes" of original songs that were to be included on her debut album. Producers Richard X and James Greenwood contributed to the album. Richard X also featured on Goldfrapp's 2010 album Head First.

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.6/10[12]
Metacritic78/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork6.8/10[1]

The Love Invention received a score of 78 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 14 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[13] Harry Tafoya, reviewing the album for Pitchfork, wrote that The Love Invention "sets [Goldfrapp] against sleek synth disco that she mostly complements rather than commands" and remarked that the album's "best moments are its quietest", highlighting "Hotel" and more particularly "SloFlo", the latter of which Tafoya called "a trick of light and shadow more impressive than the album's more labored vamping".[13]

Track listing

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The Love Invention track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."NeverStop"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
4:34
2."Love Invention"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • James Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
4:19
3."Digging Deeper Now"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
4:16
4."In Electric Blue"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Scott
3:19
5."The Beat Divine"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
5:09
6."Fever (This Is the Real Thing)"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
4:43
7."Hotel (Suite 23)"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
4:35
8."Subterfuge"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Greenwood
3:13
9."Gatto Gelato"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
4:36
10."So Hard So Hot"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Greenwood
4:27
11."SloFlo"
  • Goldfrapp
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Greenwood
3:39
Total length:46:50
Digital edition bonus disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Fever" (with Paul Woolford)
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
  • Woolford
3:48
2."Digging Deeper" (with Claptone)
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
3:17
3."Impossible" (with Röyksopp; Alison's "Touch the Sky" edit)
3:11
4."Gatto Gelato" (niina remix)
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • niina
3:45
5."Fever" (with Paul Woolford; Special Request club mix)
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
Woolford9:09
6."Digging Deeper" (with Claptone; extended mix)
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
  • Goldfrapp
  • Richard X
  • Greenwood
  • Claptone
6:09
Total length:76:09

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer.
  • "Digging Deeper" with Claptone is a remix of "Digging Deeper Now".
  • "Fever" with Paul Woolford is a remix of "Fever (This Is the Real Thing)".

Personnel

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  • Alison Goldfrapp – vocals, art direction
  • John Davis – mastering
  • Pete Hofmann – mixing
  • Richard X – mixing (tracks 1–7, 9), engineering (all tracks)
  • James Greenwood – engineering
  • Tom Archer – engineering
  • Calum Landau – engineering
  • Sam Baker – engineering
  • Jonny Leslie – engineering
  • Mat Maitland – art direction, photography, imagery, design
  • Beth Fenton – styling
  • Goom Heo – clothing
  • Toby Scott – keyboards, programming (track 4)

Charts

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Chart performance for The Love Invention
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Australian Hitseekers Albums (ARIA)[14] 6
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[15] 115
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[16] 54
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[17] 39
Scottish Albums (OCC)[18] 1
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[19] 74
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 25
UK Albums (OCC)[21] 6
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[22] 1
Chart performance for The Love Reinvention
Chart (2023) Peak
position
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[23] 35

References

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  1. ^ a b Tafoya, Harry (15 May 2023). "Alison Goldfrapp: The Love Invention Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Alison Goldfrapp – "NeverStop"". Stereogum. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Alison Goldfrapp Shares Video Vignette for New Song "Love Invention"". Under the Radar. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Alison Goldfrapp shares In Electric Blue video vignette". Retro Pop Magazine. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. ^ Stickler, John (11 November 2019). "Goldfrapp Announce Spring 2020 Felt Mountain: The 20th Year Tour". Stereoboard. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  6. ^ "Tour Postponements and Cancellations". Mute. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  7. ^ Veevers, Brendon. "News: Goldfrapp Reveal 'Felt Mountain' Reissue and Tour Dates". Renowned for Sound. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  8. ^ Brandon, Chris (2 February 2022). "Röyksopp teams with Alison Goldfrapp for "Impossible"". Synthpop Fanatic.
  9. ^ Samways, Gemma (4 May 2022). "Searching For Utopia: Alison Goldfrapp". DIY. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  10. ^ Brodsky, Rachel (16 March 2023). "Alison Goldfrapp Shares New Song "So Hard So Hot": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  11. ^ Murray, Robin (16 February 2023). "Alison Goldfrapp, Paul Woolford Combine On Magnetic Single 'Fever' | News". Clash.
  12. ^ "The Love Invention by Alison Goldfrapp reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  13. ^ a b c "The Love Invention by Alison Goldfrapp Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  14. ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 22 May 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1733. Australian Recording Industry Association. 22 May 2023. p. 25.
  15. ^ "Ultratop.be – Alison Goldfrapp – The Love Invention" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Alison Goldfrapp – The Love Invention" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Alison Goldfrapp – The Love Invention" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". El portal de Música. Promusicae. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Alison Goldfrapp – The Love Invention". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  21. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  22. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 December 2023.