The first several weeks of the saw a paucity (that means "smallness of number; scarcity") of new music releases in my in-box; however, I now have a backlog of CDs to talk about. Of course the biggest release of the year has been Janet Jackson's DISCIPLINE featuring the smash hit "Feedback." I won't talk to much about it, especially since everyone else and their grandma has already given their opinion, but I will say the hype has been justified and that Miss Jackson has produced a stellar album. But what about all those other CDs churning in my CD player? Here's a round-up of what I have found to be quite interesting to me and hopefully to you as well

MOVE: Atlantis Dance 2008 (Silver Label) mixed by Manny Lehman
On the dance music front, the guys at Atlantis Events, who are responsible for those fabulous gay cruises and vacations that are now all the rage, have decided to bring the unique brand of music that is played on their trips to the masses. This debut continuous mix effort is a 2-CD set with a style that's a bit of a departure from Lehman's signature hard-charging circuit style, with a European musical flair to it and plenty of divas. Appealing to the diverse Atlantis clientele, MOVE includes tracks by Kristine W, Inaya Day, Ultra Nate, Bob Sinclar, and The Cliks.

GILLES PETERSON IN THE HOUSE (Defected Records)
The guys at Defected, the best house music label in the world in my opinion, have done it again by producing another top-notch continuous mix effort: this time by Gilles Peterson. A legendary and global figure in the world of jazz, Peterson is also an acclaimed DJ who has put together this 2-cd set of deep house music magic that is truly special. infectious groovers by contemporary house music maestros such as Dennis Ferrer and Sandy Rivera while CD2 has an old-school jazzy,, R&B, and disco feel to it with the inclusion of "back in the day" tracks by Earth Wind, & Fire; A Taste of Honey; Chaka Khan; and Angela Bofill. Gilles Peterson has an incredibly broad knowledge, collection, and appreciation of music and he ably presents it in this tremendous Defected production.

11i (Rykodisc) by Supreme Beings of Leisure
Ramin Sakuri and Geri Soriano-Lightwood are the duo that makes up Supreme Beings of Leisure and this third album of theirs is a lush collection of downtempo electronica goodness. The eleven tracks that make up 11i (and no, there is no coincidence about the use of the number eleven with these two) combine sultry electro-lounge beats with touches of pop, bits of R&B, and deep meaningful lyrics speaking to the life changes that both Sakuri and Soriano-Lightwood have been through. This is a worthy addition to anyone's CD collection.

SEVENTH TREE (Mute) by Goldfrapp
Alison Goldfrapp and her partner in crime Will Gregory are back with another album, but do not expect it to be filled with disco beats and electronica sensibilities. Instead what you get is a 10-track long-player that's warm and sensual and at the same time folksy and psychedelic. Possessing unique and interesting instrumentation, Seventh Tree demonstrates Goldfrapp's creativity and is sure to take the listening public on a fantastic ride.