Out goes the hedonism, pounding synths and skin tight military-cum-air hostess uniforms and in come swooning, folky soundscapes with billowing white dresses. To say that Seventh Tree is a radical departure is certainly no understatement. Neither is it, to say that it is also Goldfrapp’s most mature and fully realised album to date.

Album opener Clowns begins by combining understated strings with the greatest instrument Goldfrapp have at their disposal - Alison Goldfrapp’s voice. In murmuring the, largely indecipherable, lyrics of Clowns it is positively dreamy.

What is striking about Seventh Tree is how cinematic it is; each song tells its own perfectly pictured story. The bounciness of Happiness somehow manages to fit with its sinister lyrics about a brain-washing cult, “join our group and you will find/ harmony and piece of mind.” When Alison sings in Caravan Girl, “we’ll run away, run away you and me” you really want to run away to the Oxfordshire countryside and laze the day away, preferably with this album in the background.

What is most remarkable about Seventh Tree is how Goldfrapp have managed to give a nod to their first album, Felt Mountain (which was similarly ambient), while still pushing the envelope. It is difficult to think of any other artist undergoing such a drastic image and sound change while making it seem natural. It’s in stark contrast to Madonna’s attention-seeking indecisiveness (“I’m a Cowgirl” “I’m a country squire” “I’m a Disco Queen” - make up yer mind!).

The greatest track on the album is current single A & E. It’s both catchy and heartbreaking. Set in a hospital you can hear the shattering longing in her voice. “Think I want you still, but it may be pills at work.” It is both the saddest and greatest song on a sad and great album.

Seventh Tree is not a perfect album, some of the songs, such as Little Bird and Some People, with its plonking piano, are slightly tedious and may bore the impatient listener. However, the consistency and warm ambience of the album more than make up for this. It takes its source material and creates something completely unique. It actually made me like acoustic and folk music, and I’m one of the few people who believe that Leonard Cohen and his followers should be burned at the stake for crimes against humanity (well, ok, music).

Higher praise than that will be hard to find! 4 ½ stars