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Tuesday, 06 December 2005 06:07

Shallow pool of water, I am here to tell you that it is OK.

We Americans, fixated on the surface so much more than the deep down inner meanings. How dare we? Can’t you hear the words of the song, listen to that mournful voice full of emotion, dig that chord, check out the influence of the 12th century chanting monks on that track...

Shallow pool of water, I am here to tell you that it is OK. Don’t feel so bad about your desire to shake your derriere as long as you choose to shake it to something as cool as Ursula 1000. Ursula 1000 is Alex Gimeno who must have a record collection that rivals even Rob Levy’s. His new album, Kinda Kinky, features funky beats, groovy hooks, and samples of every song that has ever been on the edge of your memory. At least one of the 14 tracks will suck you in and have you gyrating.

Kinda Kinky is a follow-up to last year’s All Systems Are Go Go, which was compiled and mixed from his live sessions throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia. In between the two he has been busy remixing works by Montifiori Cocktail, Nocola Conte, and Pop Shopping. He has also shown up on ESPN, providing the theme music for skateboarder Tony Hawk, and has remixed the themes for Powerpuff Girls and Sesame Street.

The album features collaborations with Dr. Luke (from the Saturday Night Live band) and Brother Cleve from Combustible Edison. You can’t beat “Beatbox Cha Cha” with its Latin power push, but I was drawn to “That Hindu That You Do” and “Le Techniques De L’Amour” with their more mysterious sides exposed. Frankly, the wall-to-wall of bongo sound is a little hard to resist.

The album swirls and loops. Sometimes it sounds all too the same, but I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing. This is music for a summer night, for dancing around with a drink in your hand, for flirting, and for essentially having a good time. Sure, there is not much deep down on this CD (not one emotive yelp of anguish on the whole thing) and you probably won’t have any revelations from listening to Kinda Kinky (except perhaps from your nether regions), but you “ain’t” marrying it, just spending the night. Put it on, have a good time, find that rhythm—you will be glad you did.