A relatively obscure offering from a surprising super-group of Dan The Automator (Dr. Octagon, Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modelling School), Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, Fantomas) and Jennifer Charles (Elysian Fields).
Taking inspiration from the cool aesthetic of 60s sex symbols a la Gainsbourg, Hitchcock films and vintage instructional records, on this wonderful 2001 oddity Dan Nakamura crafts sultry, left-field downtempo hip-hop beats from crackly records for Patton and Charles to croon over.
The lyrics are steamier than a sauna and while the vocal performances are definitely slightly tongue in cheek it never goes overboard (except literally on "Lifeboat") reining it back enough to sell the concept while delivering genuinely good pop songs that stay on theme.
There are story songs ("To Catch A Thief", "Strangers On A Train"), a collar-looseningly saucy cover of Berlin's "Sex I'm A", instructional vignettes from a host of guest stars such as Damon Albarn, Prince Paul and Afrika Bambaataa, instrumental offerings backing the masterful scratching of Kid Koala and "Anger Management", a Patton-sung effort so incredibly catchy that anyone you play it to will instantly get Mandela effect that it was a popular chart banger from the era.
A1. Ladies Love Chest Rockwell (Introduction)
A2. Pit Stop (Take Me Home)
A3. Anger Management
B1. Everyone Has A Summer
B2. To Catch A Thief
B3. Lies And Alibis
B4. Herbs, Good Hygiene & Socks
C1. Book Of The Month
C2. Lifeboat
C3. Strangers On A Train
C4. Lovage (Love That Lovage, Baby)
D1. Sex (I'm A)
D2. Koala's Lament
D3. Tea Time With Maseo
D4.Stroker Ace
D5. Archie & Veronica
