Asif Khan Inc.

Head First – Goldfrapp

The British electronic music duo of Goldfrapp hasn’t really remained loyal to a particular variety of music over the span of their discography. Their latest album “Head First” just makes it the fifth piece which makes this truth more complete. With synthpop melodies, 80s style disco inspired club music minus the funk elements, and all of it married to a modern softer, club based space oriented sound, “Head First” is a neat departure from the previous downtempo “Seventh Tree” as well as the glam rock feel of the hugely popular “Black Cherry”. Right from the start, they simply propel you with cryogenic fuel on the lead single “Rocket” with the sparkling sheen of its choruses. Its not just on rocket, the entire album is filled up with showers of sparkling glitter and exploding confetti. The warm keyboard moves on “Alive”, the staccato beats of “Dreaming” or the twistingly robotic “Shiny and Warm”, each of them just add to the glimmer. Come on, even the sparseness of “Hunt” and the eeriness of “Voicething” can be said to be giving out twinkles. It would remain to be seen if they get nominated for a Mercury with this album like their debut “Felt Mountain”, but we’d say they’d be a strong contender.