Do any of the available music players offer a true random play mode?
By that I mean that they can cope with subfolders without needing a playlist; just point it at the music folder and press play.
While I don't know of any that do this on a Linux system, I have one that does this in my car, so I know it's technically feasible. I don't have one that does this on my Mac desktop, either. So, it may be a development opportunity for someone.
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Do you mean search a multi-depth directory hierarchy and build its own list of files for randomization ?
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I listen to music all day and I use Rhythmbox as my primary. I have used lots of others like MediaMonkey (windows only) and all of them require you to "add" the music to your library and once you add your music, you should be able to randomize it. I have multiple playlists and one of them contains every song in my library so I can randomize it.
It is easy enough to add to a playlist and bulk add songs to it so you could easily add the music in your folder to your library and then into a playlist and then randomize it. You can delete the playlist later.
To answer your question, however, I am not aware of any player that can just click on a folder and have it move through all the music in subfolders.
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You are looking for "Audacious"
It is not pointing to the foldertree but drag and drop the foldertree but that is close enough I suppose 
It doesn't work with a music library like rhythmbox and other players, which is why I (also professionally) use it.
Install from the commandline:
sudo apt install audacious
or use a GUI installer of your choice
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Just a boring remark. Randomizers are built on top of random numbers generators. And these generators implement pseudo-random algorithms in software. The real random numbers generators are implemented in hardware and are based on physical principles. They are very-very-very uncommon things. 
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If that means a folder tree, then yes?
Frustration with Rhythmbox is, unfortunately, the driver behind this question.
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Looks like this might be the way forward
Thanks
"folder" is a Windows/Macintosh terminology that is not in common use in the UNIX/Linux world. Normally the term directory is used, but they are interchangeable in meaning.
Righto
Noted
and Thanks
You are semantically correct, but even the GUI utilities such as Caja use a folder icon to represent directories.
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Good Catch!
Now that you mention it:
Even the Yaru iconset uses that folder icon and it is claimed by many that Yaru is not skeuomorphic so based on that: directories are claimed to be real folders 
( Thank you, Microsoft, for poisoning the mind and vocabulary of all those youngsters 
)
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Since we have never, physically, took folders and inserted them into each other in a hierarchy, the folder icon is a BAD iconification of the directory concept and should be replaced.
But ... given the inertia behind the current usage of "folders", it would be like standing in front of a freight train if I was to even attempt to follow-thru on that idea!
Replaced with what? It's easy enough to say the folder analogy should be replaced, but then be prepared to offer a replacement.
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That is a very good point
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Apple beat Microsoft to it.
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I actually did start looking, before posting that response, then backed away, which is why I posted my mention of "inertia". Or did you miss that ?
No, I saw it. And I agree. But we're simply woolgathering here, so it's just a mental exercise and nothing more.
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If you are looking for some nice algorithms here is one that is on github about shuffling songs:
Also since Audacious was mentioned I would also mention Strawberry player:
This one works as an organizer as well so its pretty nice thing to have if you've got a lot of offline music
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