At a corner where lounge takes a turn into the bizarre, that's where you'll find Spain's
Ana D.. Along with a few co-conspirators, she makes music that is often cheesy (the version of "Mas," better known as the standard "More," delivered over a canned rhythm with a perfectly straight face, making for something akin to an avant-garde experience). But that's true for much of this disc, which opens and closes with music box
Chopin and along the way glides through "Satelite 99," straight out of the cocktail bar, and into the spaceship that's "Velero Lleno de Estrellas y Bahias," which lands in Northeastern Brazil for "Carnaval." Along with Hammond organ and guitars, the ensemble uses everything from cheap rhythm boxes to Theremins and Casios in pursuit of their vision (and it has to be said, it all works better in Spanish), resulting in something that's unaffectedly hip.
Ana D. herself isn't a brilliant singer, but uses her voice effectively, and its smoothness -- which skillfully never verges on monotone -- blends with the other instruments to create a silky whole. It's an odd joy, perhaps, but a disc that's curiously rewarding. [A bonus-disc edition was issued in 2007.] ~ Chris Nickson