What we have here is a musical interpretation of contemporary Los Angeles as seen through the eyes of young people that have been force- fed pop culture like so many geese at a foie gras farm. And like the livers of those criminally- indulged fowl, the end product of mandated pop culture ingestion can be quite delicious. It's easy to see how the Dust Brothers were drawn to these kids, the first band they signed to their own Nickelbag Records. Sukia share the Brothers' fascination with found sounds, off- kilter grooves and samples that spelunk the deep reaches of the television generation's collective unconscious.

The music is instrumental (save the odd chants and spoken verses), and it generally pumps along in a more ambient vein, a nice backing for a groovy dinner party or any time you want some quirky aural coloring. Nickelbag describes it as "what you play while listening to your favorite music," and though that phrase makes absolutely no sense, in this skewed landscape it seems about right. The lounge/ salsa/ hip-hop beats are as laid- back as suburban SoCal itself, and woven throughout are samples from moonwalks, tacqueria ads, films, distorted short wave radio transmissions and assorted unclassifiable weirdness. Add plenty of Latin textures, surf guitar, muted horns, Moogs and programmed Casio beats, and you get these guys. And while Sukia are yet another addition to a crowded genre, their vibe proves fun and funky, and their retro headtrip is worth taking.

-Mark Richard-San