Pop Is Not The Enemy: #TBT 3

For Throwback Thursday every week we're going to shine our poplight on a stone cold classic.

This week for 'Throwback Thursday' we are featuring a total and utter, no messing around, pop explosion of a song. The group in question is Goldfrapp and we're putting our glittery spotlight on the 3 minutes 41 one seconds of absolute perfection that is 'Strict Machine'.

'Strict Machine' and it's parent album 'Black Cherry' were, mostly, a big step away from the lush, ambient sounds of their debut 'Felt Mountain' (if you're not familiar with the icy gorgeousness of 'Utopia' then familiarise yourself forthwith!). Following the sexy, dark, driving synths of the album's first single 'Train' Goldfrapp pushed the pop button for their next release, to amazing effect.

For the first rumble of that unmistakable bassline you know you're in for an epic ride. Alison's coquettish, playful vocal skips across the pulsating and glam backing wonderfully offering a really interesting mix of light and dark - she might sound like a good girl but if you listen closely she's anything but:

"When you send me a pulse,

Feel a wave of new love through me.

I'm dressed in white noise,

You know just what I want so please."

The vocal soars as the electronica builds towards the end of the verse then crashes down into a burst of buzzing synths before the simple but effective pop chorus smashes through, it has a really interesting call and respond structure between the vocal and crunchy synthesizers - just gorgeous.

The video is also worthy of note, using psychedelic, kaleidoscopic graphics intercut with a particularly sexy looking Alison to perfectly showcase this holy fusion of glam rock and electronica. Will Gregory's synths give a perfect backing to her electro-stomp as she's flanked by animal-headed dancers (in keeping with the album's look). As a point of interest the video was directed by Swede Jonas Odell who's unmistakable graphic style was also used by Franz Ferdinand for their 'Take Me Out' video and also 'I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked' by Ida Maria - both total tunes.

So, without further ado, ladies and gents be upstanding for the absolute cocking pop brilliance of 'Strict Machine' by Goldfrapp!