Washington's finest purveyors of hazy downbeat soundscapes have already produced two stoned classics with Sounds from The Thievery H-Fi (4AD) and their DJ Kicks mix on K7! Records. Their latest longplayer walks to the same tempo but with an overall more purposeful musical strut. It's organic for a start, with live vocals and sounds, trading in the slightly sullen slow-mo digi-dub for a more refined and soulful brand of chic. Check the breathless beauty of Marla's voice on "La Monde" and "So Com Voce" as she floats into the spaces left empty on previous Thievery encounters. They manage to wring every half-drop of their main musical influences (dub, soundtracks and bossa) into this beautiful record as it sinks into deep waters, oozing sophistication all the way down. Perfect accompaniment when too spannered to dance, this contains the added bonus of jazzual jungle finale, "Tomorrow" to liven you up from contented slumber just before the CD ends. Sweet like syrup, not chocolate. --Dan Stacey