The self-titled debut album from
Supreme Beings of Leisure fuses sounds from the group's diverse heritage -- which includes Japan, Puerto Rico, Ireland, India, Iran, and the Dominican Republic -- with deft programming and accessible songwriting. The result is a very smooth collection of trip-hop-based pop songs with global touches, not unlike a multi-culti Morcheeba album. Swooning strings and sitars weave their way through most of the album's 11 songs, including "Golddigger," which recalls '60s spy-movie themes, and "Never the Same" (heard on the TV commercial for the Johnnie Walker Black Label whiskey) and "Last Girl on Earth," which showcase Geri Soriano-Lightwood's versatile, seductive vocals. The breakbeat-driven "Ain't Got Nothin'" and "Sublime" pick up the pace with a nod to drum'n'bass, while "Strangelove Addiction"'s club-friendly rhythm and lilting, Eastern-inspired melody make it the most accessible track on the album. Though many of the styles on
Supreme Beings of Leisure have been done before, the group does a good job of updating the basic trip-hop sound enough to keep it fresh and enjoyable. ~ Heather Phares