Goldfrapp’s entire career has been a series of comprehensive reinventions, so it’s something of a surprise that so much of their seventh album finds them returning to the stomping glam rock/synth fusions of 2003’s Black Cherry. The lack of progression isn’t a problem: opener Anymore (about transgender children), the standout Everything Is Never Enough and the brooding, PJ-Harvey-goes-electro Ocean are a match for anything Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory have released before. The Garbage-like Systemagic even overcomes being hamstrung by a title seemingly designed to conjure unwanted flashbacks to Five Star, Romford’s answer to the Jackson 5. However, Silver Eye sags badly in the middle. Faux Suede Drifter and Zodiac Black , in particular, are all texture and no song, ambient washes of sound topped with uncharacteristically disengaging vocals. It all makes for a slightly underwhelming whole.
