Inquiry From Our Viewers: Blackberry Brandy?

Karen from New Jersey writes us this week to say:

“I have three-quarters of a bottle of Blackberry Brandy. What would be the best band to pair with this drink?”

Well Karen, my esteemed co-conspirator and I have discussed heatedly and thoroughly, and have come to a decision.

If you had a whole bottle, this would be a different matter entirely, but three-quarters of a bottle screams Goldfrapp. Specifically the “Supernature” album.

Brandy is distilled wine boiled down closer to it’s essence, and in doing so it changes the structure of the drink. Flavors shift, the composition changes, and suddenly what was meant to help lessen tariffs becomes a proper beverage in it’s own right.

Brandy then became a classic of it’s own. Brandy even stopped the communists. Well, at least until St. Petersburg’s stashes were consumed and the hangovers subsided.

Now take this classic and toss in some blackberries and sugar. Suddenly a classic shifts. Sugar adds that sweet taste, and the blackberries add that tang. The stuff will pull you right in, there’s no resisting it’s sweet seduction.

The thought of stuffy old men in front of fireplaces completely disappears. Images of young people enjoying themselves come to mind.

Segue, Goldfrapp.

Goldfrapp’s Supernature is an electronic album with whispy breathy vocals and heavy synthesizer action. Every song on this album is danceable. Playing it sitting down seems to be an exercise in futility; within 2.5 minutes I find myself out of my chair.

I would say their style can be traced back to the days of Disco. Disco heaped with generous amounts of Electronica and Rock. They don’t stop there, building upon it, adding a hint of this, a waft of that. They make it that extra delicious.

At times I almost feel as if they are toying with me as a cat toys with a mouse. They know I cannot resist that beat, and they know that when they randomly come up in my shuffle mode I’ll be doing a poor imitation of the Robot within seconds.

Their music is extremely palatable; nothing on this album is abrasive or sharp. It’s pure seduction. It makes my head feel all fuzzy and full of happiness. It seems perfect for an outside dance party on a cool fall evening.

Seriously. That beat would even stop a rioting communist in their tracks.

What to take away?

Both Goldfrapp and Blackberry Brandy are unique twists on a classic. They both seem well suited for early twenty-somethings with a slightly off-beat but well defined sense of style.

They both can temporarily detain communists.

What to expect?

Funky beats, seductive vocals, and cool delicious blackberry brandy.

What song matches best?

“Ooh La La“. She may need Ooh La La, I need more brandy.

What drink to mix it with? (if straight up isn’t your bag).

Cola.

One part blackberry brandy to two parts cola. Dub it the Blackbird and you’re done. It is supposed to taste a tidge like Cherry Cola. On a side note, the album preceding Supernature is “Black Cherry“. Coincidence? I think not!