on the Bathroom Floor”, “End of Desire”, “Around U”, “I Know a Place” and “Loudspeaker”. Songs such as “So Special” and “Promise” sound like 21st century updates of underrated queer Canadian band The Parachute Club (of “Rise Up” fame).
Returning with its first album since 2013’s Tales of Us, Goldfrapp, featuring queer lead vocalist Alison Goldfrapp, delivers the shiny Silver Tree (Mute). The ten tracks effortlessly incorporate the band’s musical styles and directions. Goldfrapp’s dance-club heartbeat pulses throughout “Anymore”, “Everything Is Never Enough”, “Become The One”, and, to a lesser degree “Systemagic”. The synth experimentation for which Goldfrapp is known can be felt on “Moon in Your Mouth”, “Ocean” and “Tigerman”. The band’s warm chill-out side is represented by “Beast That Never Was” and “Faux Suede Drifter”.
Born in the L.A.’s “queer punk underground”, French Vanilla is a feminist punk band that makes the best use of a saxophone and bassline since Romeo Void (of “Never Say Never” fame). The band’s self-titled Danger Collective Records debut channels the `80s through a 21st century lens and amplifier. French Vanilla pays homage to everyone’s favorite telekinetic in “Carrie” and “Anti-Aging Global Warming” (with its “accept your days are numbered mantra”) are a couple of examples of the variety of subject matter.
About U (RCA) by queer female trio MUNA is a blast from the `80s past. From the vocoder on “Winterbreak” to the irresistibly persuasive dance energy of “Crying
Hiraeth (theharmaleighs.com) the new six-song EP by queer “indie Americana” duo The Harmaleighs (creative and personal partners Haley Grant and Kaylee Jesperson) is as soothing as a milk bath. The harmonies are gorgeous (“Diamond Ring” and the difficult “Birds of a Feather”) and the pair is not afraid to crank it up a bit when necessary (the subtle countryrock of “Mouthful of Cigarettes”).
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