Dave Chamberlain

Unlike his Parisian contemporaries (Daft Punk, Air, Cassius), who would rather re-live seventies soft-jazz and prog, former Respect DJ Dimitri From Paris revels in the early sixties, kitsch-heavy lounge; for those interested, check out last year's "Sacrebleu." That said, his command of seventies disco, soul and house music shined on 2000's "A Night at the Playboy Mansion" (Astralwerks), which damn near strip-mined the Motown sound for his Playboy chic decadence. His follow-up, the recently released double record "After the Playboy Mansion" (Astralwerks), finds Dimitri modernizing a bit, but still avoiding his beloved Berry-esque angle. The first disc, the "laidback" selection, injects modern down tempo with arching string arrangements, Afro-beat jazz and mundial texture; tracks from the likes of Li'l Louis, Blaze and even Grace Jones are at once sophisticated and debauched. Dimitri picks up the pace on the second disc (the "uplifting" selection), celebrating his affinity for energetic disco and soul. The bricks and mortar of this disc are a trio of tracks: Llarca and Nicole Graham's samba-sweet "Indigo Blues"; the Best Friends Around's "So Good to Know"--a silky seventies soul track; and De La Soul with Chaka Khan's "(It Ain't) All Good," with the raps removed. Assume tonight, a CD release for the second "Playboy" record, will combine the best of both Dimitris: a little posh, a little decadent, a lot of disco and--in all likelihood--a healthy dose of jet-setting jazz from the late fifties.

Dimitri From Paris plays March 21 at the Smart Bar, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203.

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