Level II

Review by Alphonse Leong

The opening song from this CD is a worthy remake of that 80's nugget, "Break My Stride" (you can make out the words better in this version -- it has better lyrics than I recall!), which paves the way for a pretty zippy collection of dance songs. This Austrian duo (Jade and B-Nice) proves that Europeans have a way of making really listenable tunes out of well-worn digitized drum and keyboard clichés. Yes, the lyrics are banal ("dance in the sun, have some fun," etc.) and, yes, the vocals have the classic "male rap-woman sing" arrangement, but there's something pleasing and hooky to how it's all put together. (Though they could have done without the mawkish "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" cover.)

I can't see why this act won't do well; but, with the huge plethora of dance artists out there already, I wouldn't advise these two to start putting down payments on countryside real estate just yet.