REVIEW: Goldfrapp at Portsmouth Guildhall

Their latest album, Tales of Us, created a subtle, nuanced beginning, with mercurial melodies, lush backing, magical chord changes, and, soaring above it all, the heavenly voice of Alison Goldfrapp.

The lighting was monochrome and moody, perfectly matching the ambient, slightly plaintive nature of the songs.

But then we found the yellow brick road, and the show burst into the glorious technicolor of Goldfrapp’s electro-pop back catalogue.

Glorious lighting effects accompanied Yellow Halo and Ride a White Horse. Train was both deafening and blinding - but in a good way.

By the time we got to the encore we were treated to a spectacular rendition of the other-worldly Lovely Head, a fantastic Utopia and the phenomenal, show-stopping, trancey, Strict Machine.

The band, and the ethereal Alison in particular, were on top form, giving the audience a show to remember.

A shame we did not get all the hits - where was Ooh La La, Happiness, Rocket, and Melancholy Sky, for example?

Goldfrapp are producing such great new music, they don’t have to rely on wheeling out all their greatest hits yet.

But it’s certainly something to look forward to, one day.