Dehli 9 [Audio CD] Tosca

While Richard Dorfmeister will always be remembered along with Peter Kruder for the now-classic 1998 downtempo record The K&D Sessions, both Kruder and Dorfmeister have given over substantial time since then to Peace Orchestra and Tosca, their respective "side projects." Dehli9 isn't quite in the class of Tosca's best work (namely, 1999's Suzuki), but it's still hypnotically impressive, using cyclic beats, lazy electronics, and a few choice vocalists to induce an active dream state. "Rolf Royce," featuring Stephan Graf Hadik Wildner's druggy vocal swoops, pits long melodic phrases against a staccato bassline to create a nice flow, while Earl Zinger's laconic style matches up well with the jazzier textures of "Wonderful." Fans of minimalism will want to investigate a bonus CD included with the record from Tosca's other member, fellow Austrian and like-minded beathead Rupert Huper. Based on an earlier piece from Huper titled "12 Easy-to-Play Piano Pieces," it's a somber, icily beautiful song cycle. Like late afternoon sunshine on a hazy winter's day, Dehli9's elegant and haunting mixture lingers in the background, barely holding onto the day as whatever light seeps through slowly fades to shadow. --Matthew Cooke