In following up her solo debut ‘The Love Invention’, Alison Goldfrapp’s ‘Flux’ still faces the dancefloor, but its gaze is turned inward. Known for her work in the electronic duo that bears her surname, this is a project built on themes of impermanence, home to songs that dissolve and swell, mapping the uncertain space between stability and change. But, despite the auteurism inherent in the project, it lacks form and personality.
Opener Hey Hi Hello nods to the ‘Supernature’ era with continental synths and sleek rhythms, but trades its glossy seduction for a bittersweet farewell. Lead single Find Xanadu is probably the album’s brightest moment — a burst of high-shine pop with disco swagger and a genuine reach for wonder. Caught at the right moment, it could soundtrack a perfect Pride celebration.
Working with longtime collaborator Richard X and Swedish producer Stefan Storm, Goldfrapp applies a clean, meticulous touch to Cinnamon Light, with its airy ‘80s synth-pop tones framing questions of identity.
Similarly, Play It (Shine Like a Nova Star) is a house-inflected cut that hides intimacy under a mirrored surface. Reverberotic probably stands out as the most dynamic track, shifting from ambient drift to electro strut, its fluid imagery recalling her more adventurous work.
There are flashes of atmosphere — the sky-watching Sound & Light, the rain-charged Ultrasky — but too often ‘Flux’ drifts into a mid-tempo fog. Hooks fade, beats feel like placeholders, and the creative freedom promised by her solo status isn’t always clear in the execution.
In a moment when artists such as Peggy Gou, Pawsa and PinkPantheress are reimagining ‘90s house with sharp edges and fresh energy, Goldfrapp’s return to the sleeker 2000s club palette feels safe. There’s craft and polish here, and at its best ‘Flux’ is graceful and stylish. At its worst, it’s Kylie’s Spinning Around B-side without the wink.
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