GrooveOut Shorts

Deborah Vail
Cooler Heart

Vocalist Deborah Vail is a former member of the all-lesbian band Blanched Fury. This is her first CD as a solo artist, but Deborah is hardly a newcomer. With a strong voice and cathartic lyrics, the openly gay Deborah Vail has played at Lilith Fair and opened for some big-name acts. Deborah has joined Dallas-based adult contemporary band Astrogin, both of whom were featured at Chances last month. From Last Beat Records (www.lastbeatrecords.com). -Andrea Rodricks

More info:
www.deborahvial.com/index.html
www.chanceshouston.com
www.astrogin.com

Erlend Oye
Unrest

Working with a gaggle of well-known producers and taking up residency in Berlin as well as several other new environments, Erland Øye has crafted an album that is a far cry from his more recognized work with Kings of Convenience. Originating in Bergen, Norway, The Kings have enjoyed tremendous success in Europe and are best described by their album title Quiet is the New Loud. Oye doesn't stray too terribly far from the volume levels of his other act on his solo album but has definitely pushed the production a lot further. The songs are laden with pop hooks but with more developed, built-out electro backgrounds that feel connected throughout. He calls this his tribute to A-ha's Hunting High and Low album from the early '80s and has successfully tapped into what a lot of us are listening for in such great pop records. From Astralwerks (www.astralwerks.com). -Lance Walker

Jody Watley
Midnight Lounge

Contemporary soul meets house/funk rhythms. Jody Watley is no stranger to dance music. Her latest album, Midnight Lounge, is a collection of soulful dance beats. Her albums have topped R&B, pop, jazz, soul, and dance charts. Midnight Lounge has the dance/soul diva combining elements from house, mid-tempo disco, R&B and soul. From Shanachie Entertainment (www.shanachie.com). -AR

More info:
www.flylifemusic.com
www.missjodywatley.com

Cosmo Vitelli
Clean

According to his bio, Cosmo Vitelli shares his name with only one other man in recent history, a character from the 1976 film The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. He also has a sound all to himself as he has constructed an album of ethereal electronic compositions based in techno but crossing over to pop in small bursts. Clean is a study in transitions, mirroring the well-traveled life of its creator, who has spent time as a DJ playing in Paris, Rome, Cologne, and Glasgow, having been originally born in France but growing up in Africa. Those travels have opened up his songwriting and ear for innovative production as his seamless integration of analog instruments and electronic sequences has dressed this album up for any occasion. From Astralwerks (www.astralwerks.com). -LW

Club Hits
Queer As Nervous

These infectious grooves will be recognizable to dance music fans everywhere. Barry Harris' Dive In the Pool with vocals by Pepper Mashay was not only a hug hit on the club circuit but also became the theme song for Showtime's hit series "Queer As Folk". The album is a compilation of the biggest club hits ideal for any fan of the show. From Nervous Records (www.nervous.co.uk or www.nervousnyc.com). -AR

Various Artists
Naked Music Presents Bare Essentials 2

The attractively named record label Naked Music out of the San Francisco area has been releasing records for nearly five years, constantly re-conceiving and metamorphosing the boundaries of their own signature sound. This latest release is a series of remixes and unreleased tracks from the throng of international artists on their roster. The sound is based in dance music but is undeniably dressed in funk and soul, perhaps sampling from those sources but all the same cloaking those origins in a most clever fashion. One very unique aspect of the compilation is that some of Naked's upstart artists such as Quant and Andy Caldwell can be heard remixing the work of the more established Blue Six and Miguel Migs. As a whole it plays like a dance party-very tribal and focused with enough density to implore future listens, with gorgeous retro artwork that will reel in the rest of us. From Astralwerks (www.astralwerks.com). -LW

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