Track Listing

1. Strickt Machine [Single Mix]
2. White Soft Rope
3. Hairy Trees [Live in London]
4. Strink Machine [Rowan's Remix]
5. Strict Machine [Calderone and Suryanto Mix]
6. Strict Machine [Rauhofer NYC Mix]
7. Strict Machine [Peter Rauhofer UK Mix]
8. Strict Machine [Benny Nenassi Sfaction Extenden Mix]
9. Strict Machine [Ewan's Stripped Machine Mix]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #102537 in Music
• Released on: 2004-05-31
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Single, Import
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

Calderone mix a keeper!
In my opinion, the original track is just barely above average, as it's a little too slow, fluffy, and cheesy for my dance liking. However, add Victor Calderone's tribal funk energy collaboration with Suryanto and this becomes one of the best dance tracks of '04. You must get this single, as I believe the imports might not have the Calderone version, and this is the one to have.

Great mixes - standout B-side
Strict Machine was arguably the best dance track off Black Cherry, (no small feat considering this is also the album that spawned "Twist" and the infectious "Train") very disco-era Blondie with a vicious bass line. Comprising all the mixes from the 2 version import singles this is definitely the most value for the money.
The mixes are sharp but the real standout is "White Soft Rope" an unreleased B-side. Just as "Utopia" nodded to Fritz Lang's Metropolis "White Soft Rope" winks at "The Midwich Cukoos" (Village of the Damned here in the states - or check out the Midwich entry here on Amazon.com if not familiar). Personally I love Goldfrapp's inclusion of schlocky subject matter and the "Midwich Children's Choir" is good fun. Definitely worth the price of the single, and the lush, live "Hairy Trees" is exquisite, more like a mix, hard to believe it's live.

less than
it is obvious that with this release, goldfrapp is trying to court a more mainstream american audience. good for them. they deserve as much success as possible. but too bad to sell out they had to sacrifice quality.

while this is one of my favorite songs off of the black cherry album, this is by far my least favorite cd single that goldfrapp has released during their career.

with strict machine, they continue with their tradition of releasing a b-side, a live track and then remixes.

the b-side in this case, white soft rope, is their most forgettable song that they have ever recorded. it doesn't measure up to other b-sides such as yes sir and uk girls (physical). this song belongs on the cutting room floor. it's okay for a b-side i guess. but it's nothing special. a treat for all the hardcore goldfrapp fans. but that's about it.

hairy trees live is probably the best part of this cd. goldfrapp soars live... they put on the best live show i have ever seen. no complaints here.

the remixes...

the two best remixes are rowan's and ewan's. but they aren't new. they were both made available on the 2003 import release of this single. they capture the original feeling of the song and make it club worthy.

the benassi remix is ok. but it sounds like everything else he has ever done. and while satisfaction was nice at first... the sound gets old fast. all of his songs and remixes sound the same. he needs to evolve or risk career suicide.

and then there are the calderone and rauhofer remixes. i guess if you're going to sell out then you might as well sell out with the best. thank god they didn't go for super crappy and pick vasquez or something horrid like that. but whatever. these are mindless remixes for mindless people... great for all the mindless clubs across america.

the one remix that is missing from the lot is goldfrapp's we are glitter mix. this is the version they've been playing live. and by far the best strict machine remix from 2004. this single would've benefited from it.

overall i say it's a good maxi single for a usa release. but it's below par for goldfrapp.