Artist: Si*Se
Album: More Shine
Label: Fuerte Records
Tracks: 12
Length: 48:29

An old boss at work told me that you need to start off an album with your best song. This is pretty fine advice because track one sets the pace for the entire album. If you wimp out on track one then you have to spend the rest of the album trying to win the listener over again. Of course, when an album starts off really good then the listener gets behind you and believes that you know what you’re doing and half of your battle is already won.

Si*Se does a good job of selling “More Shine” right of the bat with the first track, “Sometimes.” The song features a laid back, not-quite-pop female vocalist who guides the song through a number of twists and turns with electronic pop and world influences (though not quite content to settle down on either pigeon-hole) complete with an orchestra. The rest of the songs are also very well done on several levels. When used as background music the sound doesn’t surprise with any weird changes in volume or urgency. Yet active listening reveals delicious little hidden tidbits that highlights Si*Se’s instinct for composition.

I definitely recommend this cd for those who like Latin-infused electronic pop. It is a very pleasant listen and one that could yield surprising fruits as an impulse purchase.