Tim Deluxe

The Little Ginger Club Kid (Underwater)

Comments (0) By Michael Roberts Wednesday, May 12 2004

Like it or not, Tim Deluxe may soon be despised by many of the people who currently adore him. Why? Because his first full-length offers pleasures that should appeal well beyond the traditional dance-music parameters, making him a prime candidate for crossover success. And nothing pisses off aficionados of a style on the mainstream's fringe like having to share a star with the rest of the world.

A British DJ and producer of gathering renown, Deluxe has been a comer on the club circuit since at least 2002, when he introduced "It Just Won't Do," a merry mélange of screwy sound effects, persistent rhythms and echoey la-la-las courtesy of the charming Sam Obernik. Even more irresistible is "Less Talk, More Action!," Deluxe's follow-up, which features surprisingly loose-limbed percussion, a tantalizing melody and cocksure vocals by Terra Deva, who comes across like a 21st-century Shirley Bassey. "Heavy Weather" whips up a whirlwind of rhythm guitar, muted synth horns and emoting by Obernik; "2 Kool 4 Skool" is an instant party, complete with crowd racket; and "Mundaya (The Boy)" returns to the days when chill-out was still cool.

Deluxe's debut isn't meant to be life-changing. Rather, it's the sort of entertainment-first offering that even people incapable of doing the Macarena can enjoy. The haters won't be happy, but the rest of us will be.