Seventh Tree (2008)

The party's over for Alison Goldfrapp. On 2005's breakthrough Supernature, sideman Will Gregory surrounded her breathy vocals with enough pulsing beats and glammy keyboard riffs to fill Studio 54. Yet on the duo's dialed-down fourth CD, Seventh Tree her Kate Bush-esque warble is left exposed, accompanied only by gossamer-light electronics (''Road to Somewhere'') or tasteful strings (''Clowns''). It's a very sleepy listen — though often a very lovely one. Who can blame the group for falling onto an ultrasoft cushion after their last album's long night out at the disco? B+
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