About Nightmares on Wax

Wholly inviting, this British act's distinctive brand of trip-hop keeps heads nodding with blunted beats and strutting vibes. Stirring up chunky bits of electro, soul and hip-hop, George Evelyn's choice and placement of hooky samples is discriminating and precise. Relaxingly funky rhythms shake up the dance floor with gritty melodies borrowed from a dusty August evening in the South, plus clunky beats and soulful rap and urban lyrics. These tight, downbeat hip-hop grooves are attention-getting fare that's likely to keep lingering bodies swaying, but they'd also make excellent background-enhancers at an intimate house party. Melissa Piazza