ALISON Goldfrapp loves taking us on a musical mystery tour.

It’s been quite a journey over the past ten years, from trip-hop and disco to 1970s glam and 1960s psychedelia, now – with her fifth album – taking a pit-stop at Eighties pop.

For someone who likes to shock and surprise (who can forget the hot pants and peacock tail?), this seems a bit too obvious. Eighties is the revival decade of the moment; what’s more, Alison is old enough to have lived it at first hand, which makes her bland take on it even more disappointing.

The first track and single, Rocket, is infectious, but cheesily reminiscent of a soundtrack to some Brat Pack movie. A bubbling synth underpins several of the nine tracks and the vocals sound as sugary as candy pink lip-gloss.

It conjures up memories of permed hair, leg warmers, ra-ra skirts and Walkmans, but musically it’s more lame than Fame.