A few months ago, I wondered if chillout act Massive Attack has Erasuritis, an ailment whereby an artist's sound stuck in another era. Erasure's frontman, Andy Bell, returns with his second solo outing, Non-Stop, which is one of the best dance-oriented records in recent times. It ranks up there with Madonna's Confessions on a Dancefloor, Kylie Minogue's X and Little Boots' Hands.
Perry Farrell guests on the absolutely delicious "Honey, If You Love Him." The catchy title track is guaranteed to be a nightclub staple. The seductive "Slow Release" recalls Erasure's gem, "You Surround Me." Another one of Non-Stop's highlights is "DHDQ," an ode to the iconic Debbie Harry. Non-Stop is destined to be summer's official party soundtrack.
As he has done with previous albums like Everything Is Wrong and Last Night, Moby has a remix companion to 2009's overlooked Wait for Me. The original album is quiet and often somber. Is it really necessary to redo everything to have 105 bpm as witnessed on any given power ballad circa 1996? Leave it to Moby to make it work.
On this double-disc set, the instrumentals "Isolate" and "Slow Light" are given new life courtesy of the remixes by Mixhell and Maps respectively. On the tweaked takes of "Wait for Me," "Pale Horses" and my favorite "JLTF," the new accompaniments succeed at complimenting the softly sung vocals. The closest thing to a big diva wail here is Leela James on "Walk with Me." This spiritual number is completely transformed into a thumping peak hour anthem with the Carl Cox Remix.
The bonus disc is an exclusive DJ mix by Moby. Wait for Me: Remixes is ideal for a trendy, dimly-lit restaurant or martini soiree.
When Leela James collaborated with Moby on "Walk with Me," her husky voice and the slumber-like pace made the gorgeous song come off as a dirge. On her latest full length album, My Soul, James keeps it uptempo.
There are no AutoTuned vocals on My Soul, but on "I Ain't New to This," James calls out to all doubters over a lively rhythm, flaunting that she does not rely just on the early-'70s soul sound. "I Want It All" has the soul singer dreaming of a better life with a much needed positive social message. There is a strong enough groove on "Party All Night," that it does not need to be drowned out with Black Eyed Peas-inspired gimmicks. "Supa Love" and the duet with Raheem Devaughn "Mr. Incredible Ms. Unforgettable" reveal that James has a sensual side too.
Forget Beyonce and the R&B flavor of the week; James proves once again with My Soul that she is the real deal. My Soul is out now on Stax.
Need some more of that ever-so-popular retro sound? Newcomers Nikki & Rich make a splash with perfect smiles and Abercrombie + Fitch model-worthy looks. Blending Little Boots' playfulness with Christina Aguilera's sass and Duffy's old school element, the pair has a hit on their hands with "Cat & Mouse."
Here, Nikki knows full well that her love interest is a player, but she is in on the game too and wants playtime to be tonight. The L.A. Riots Remix fantastically emulates Deee-Lite, as an over-exaggerated kiss is sampled. Johnny Vicious continues his streak of as the go-to remixer. "Cat & Mouse" can be heard on the primetime series 90210. Expect Nikki & Rich's full length debut Everything later this year. The duo will be performing Sunday, June 27, at San Francisco's Pride festivities.
Combining folk with pop and country, Amy Cook won me over with her 2007 outing, The Sky Observer's Guide, which I ultimately dubbed as the album of the year. My foot has been tapping with anticipation for her follow-up, Let the Light In.
Armed with her guitar and a tomboy haircut, the Texan singer-songwriter shows off her keen observations on the intimate "Hotel Lights." While "Moonrise" crescendos with her howling "when you gonna look my way?" The Americana rock "Saltwater" is available as a free mp3 at amycook.com .
Also keep an eye out for the documentary, Amy Cook: The Spaces in Between. Her previous recording "Sunshine" can be found on the lesbian compilation Music from the Aisle of Lesbos. Cook will be at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, on Wed., June 23.
Whether you think it should be called Shrek 4 or Golden Girls 2.0, the Sex and the City franchise is back with a sequel taking place in New York City and Abu Dhbai. The music selections are fun, stylish and rich in girl power, no surprises there.
Here, Alicia Keys covers Blondie's "Rapture" and Liza Minnelli redoes Beyonce's "Single Ladies ( Put a Ring on It ) ." That's one you just have to hear for yourself. I really must wonder if Minnelli is in on the self-parody trip as she duets with Billy Stritch on "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." There is some exotic flair thanks to Cee-Lo's "Language of Love" and Natacha Atlas' "Kidda." New York is well-represented with Keys' "Empire State of Mind ( Part II ) Broken Down" and Cyndi Lauper's classic "True Colors." Dido makes a welcomed return to her electronic roots on "Everything to Lose." Just skip the cast's dreadful version of "I Am Woman."
