Listen Up :: Goldfrapp, Róisín Murphy, Travie McCoy, Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Goldfrapp clearly have their heads in the clouds on new album Head First-and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Blowing in on a dreamy cloud not unlike the one from which frontwoman Alison Goldfrapp's head emerges on the cover, the album is full of frothy late-'70s/early-'80s-inspired melodies and synths wrapped in some gorgeous ethereal loveliness. While using the '80s as inspiration is hardly an original idea-it seems damn near every electronic hipster darling has been referencing the '80s for the last ten years-Goldfrapp certainly wears is well. Opener and lead single "Rocket" blasts into heavenly space by conjuring up some Van Halen "Jump" synth chords, and "Believer" is something like "It's Raining Men" meets "Dead or Alive" on a mellow, dew-filled morning. Meanwhile, Xanadu-ish "Alive," delicious "Dreaming" and "I Wanna Life" (tinged with hints of "Maniac" from Flashdance) would make Giorgio Moroder proud. It's mostly danceable (except maybe the fantastic title track and the intriguing "Hunt") while retaining an angelic floaty-ness, and it only gets slightly more grounded and gritty on sexy "Shiny and Warm." Even the number of album tracks-just nine songs-seems retro by today's standards where albums commonly hit the 14-plus mark. But hey, we're happy to have nine solid songs than a bunch of padding. Meanwhile, look for the remixes of first single "Rocket" by Richard X, Ti�sto, Grum and Penguin.

Another hipster lady we love (besides Alison) is R�is�n Murphy who has a very cool new collaboration with electroclash duo Crookers. "Royal T" is decidedly outside the mainstream-blending some oddball hip-hop and electro with a '90s organ bass, the sounds morph, build, degenerate, filter and create all kinds of sonic, kooky deliciousness.

Yet one more female from across the Atlantic that we live for is Sophie Ellis-Bextor. After enjoying some success with the Freemasons last year on single "Heartbreak Make Me a Dancer," Ellis-Bextor is back reteaming with the duo on new "Bittersweet." Not only did Freemasons produce the original, they've also helmed a remix (Jodie Harsh also hashes out an electro mix). We can't say upon the first few listens it comes close to her classics like "Murder on the Dancefloor" (or our Freemasons favorites for that matter), but we'll always kill to have her on our dance floor.

Keeping everything in balance, we return Stateside where Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy has released the first single "Billionaire" off his solo album Lazarus (coming June 8). Starting out laid-back, with the impressive vocals of featured artist Bruno Mars sounding like a foul-mouthed Jason Mraz, the song kicks into a bigger-sounding beat as McCoy's rapping kicks in. If the Caribbean ska-tinged single is anything indication of the full album, McCoy will see at some millions in his pocket.