Sy Smith: Fast and Curious

Rhythm is a dancer on Sy Smith's latest, and her fifth LP truly is Smith's greatest to date. Awash in a new wave '80s sound, the album needs a warning label: "May cause flashbacks to neon necklaces, ripped sweats, and 'Max Headroom.'" Still, with Smith and producer Mark de Clive-Lowe at the helm, the neo-throwbacks prove loads of fun. House-flavored acid jazz trips such as "Personal Paradise" and "Find My Way" deliver spacey, ambient grooves, while standouts "Nights (Feel Like Gettin' Down)," featuring Rahsaan Patterson, and "Let the Rain Fall Down" take us spinning around the discotheque on the eve of the genre's death. Smith's pop chops aren't big, but they serve every song, and her whistle notes deserve respectful nods. Some cool jams overstay their welcome with running times meant for the clubs, but you will leave sweating and smiling. (4 out of 5 stars)