Tricky Bizzniss

Singer Trixy Reiss, formerly of the Crystal Method, here joins forces with Grammy-nominated producer and remix artist Ernie Lake to create an album of surprisingly light and frothy electro-pop. The program opens sharply with the fun and funky "Cybertronic," which is then followed by the funner and funkier "Jet Set Ride." These two songs are some of the sharpest examples of what Tricky Bizniss does best: snappy, slightly trashy, occasionally Euro-sounding electronic pop-funk. On "Love Ain't Money" they bring in a reggaeton flavor (and a pretty fine rap interlude), and then things bog down just a bit: "Tonight's Your Lucky Day" is kind of silly, and the handclaps and tensile drum part aren't quite enough to offset the silliness; "Pyramid in the Haze" is a static and rather sappy ballad. The substantially more rockish "So Long" and the finger-popping "C'mon C'mon" get things back on track, and the rest of the album shimmies and bops along very nicely — note, in particular, the goofy vocal effects that enhance the clubby "Day to Day (Remix)" and the pseudo-exotic touches that give "In Paradise" a coating of kitschy charm. Recommended.