English singer/composer/keyboardist
Allison Goldfrapp first appeared on tracks by
Orbital (from 1994's
Snivilisation) and her friend
Tricky (his 1995 debut
Maxinquaye), which led to appearances on albums from other cutting-edge electronic artists. By the late '90s,
Goldfrapp began honing her own compositions, which caught the ear of composer
Will Gregory. Finding much in common in their musical tastes and approaches, the duo took
Allison's surname as the name for their collaboration.
Goldfrapp's debut album, the haunting
Felt Mountain, arrived in 2000. Further work cemented their place at the forefront of British pop in the 21st century, and saw them dabbling with disco, glam rock, acoustic-based folk, and pop influences, but nearly every work was just as sonically lush. ~ Heather Phares