Hercules and Love Affair: s/t

Label: Mute

Antony & the Johnsons fans, your hero Mr. Hegarty assumes a new identity here, lending his highly distinctive falsetto to a disco-y/house-y electronic outfit that might be the best thing DFA’s ever done. It’s a perfect fit for Antony’s voice, and the retroness of producer/mastermind Andrew Butler’s sound is changed up with some cool effects – there’s some real originality here in how the old-school styles are blended/contrasted. Nor is this one of those dance albums that’s all beats and no hooks – there are real melodies here, and some great horn riffs. Butler also sings a bit, and Kim Ann Foxman and Nomi add female vocals, so there’s plenty of variety in that arena as well. Ever since this came out in Europe, we’ve been besieged by requests for it. Now that it finally has arrived, all our summer parties now have their dance soundtrack. (Steve)