“Purest One,” the opening track of Etro Anime’s debut disc See The Sound (Neurodisc), sounds like Morcheeba if they were fronted by Ani DiFranco. Female lead vocalist Lissette Alea convincingly moves back and forth from being a breathy Euro-pop diva to a trip-hop heroine, always keeping it fresh and funky. “Portrait” frames Alea’s vocals in subtle beats and vibrating keyboards, while “Summer Rain” pours out like a sun-shower punctuated by a rainbow of rhythms. “Endless,” the song from which the disc derives its titles, delivers a nearly endless array of beats and dreamy vocals. Alea’s languorous vocals over the breakneck jungle beats on “Danger” make the song safe for listeners and dancers and “Adonis” is a love song for improvisational dancers. The instrumental “All I Need” serves up almost all the exotic beats you need, and don’t forget to listen for the hidden tracks.
The trio known as P-1 infuses its dance music with an air of down-tempo attitude which makes the eleven tracks on Step (NoVo/Lightyear) as suitable for getting wound up as they are for unwinding. Opening track “Soul” possesses just that and “Step” could increase the blood flow of steppers in motion everywhere. The revved up Latin-pop vibe of “Vespa” is a pleasure and “One Try” improves with each listen. P-1 “steps” it up with the drum’n’bass track “Gone,” and keeps up the pace with a jungle rendition of the standard “Come Rain Or Come Shine.” More world music influences seep into “Storm,” as well as “P-1” in which female lead vocalist B. A. Arentsen, steps back and allows her male cohorts to be heard. Closing track “Unify” is a soulful excursion which includes jazzy elements to flesh out the theme of unification.