Goldfrapp
Head First
(Mute)
The most frivolous song on Goldfrapp’s fifth album also happens to be its best. Coincidence? “Rocket” blasts off with an irresistible hook, pillow-soft vocals by frontwoman Alison Goldfrapp and delightfully kooky lyrics (“I got a rocket/You’re going on it/You’re never coming back”). It’s positively ABBA-esque. The rest of Head First dives in with equal playfulness. The soaring “Alive” whooshes across the dance floor from another, gayer galaxy, and “Believer” rolls forward on a disco beat straight outta 1977. In the past, the London duo was pretty serious about its electro-pop. It’s good to hear them loosen up on Head First. Taking cues from ABBA, Donna Summer’s electro-orgasmic hits from the ’70s and some percolating old-school new wave, Goldfrapp have delicious fun digging the past. —Michael Gallucci (follow me on Twitter @mgallucci)
