SHAZAM

Colette is both a highly celebrated house DJ and a startlingly fine singer who generally works in a house-electro style. But the release of her second album generated such a buzz that she began touring with a full band, which is a good thing -- as good as she sounds in a fully electronic setting, a human ensemble would give her even more flexibility. Still, her sophomore excursion into techno-house balladry is at least as good as her first one was, and features both solid songwriting (always a welcome surprise in any dance music genre) and her exquisitely sexy vocals. Some will find the beats a bit samey, but there are a few changeups from the typical four-on-the-floor house rhythms: "Funny" is built on a spare but heavy funk beat (and features a fine MC turn by Black Spade), and the simple rhythmic structure of "Get You Over" is nicely ornamented by swinging accents and densely layered, jazzy vocal harmonies. But the album's finest moment is arguably its first, the club hit "About Us," on which Colette delivers a sharp kiss-off to an inexplicably careless lover. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson, Rovi