Kraak & Smaak

You could do a lot worse than to listen to this trio of DJ/producers from Holland all summer. After a string of sought-after 12-inch singles on London’s Jalapeno Records, Kraak & Smaak (the name is a Dutch saying, not a drug reference) makes its U.S. debut with a tasty full-length offering on the venerable Quango label. Full of smooth downtempo vibes and Latin flavors, this disc is sure to find a cozy home next to Mark Rae or J-Boogie’s Dubtronic Science on the CD shelf, and will get plenty of play time at the beach or poolside. If the soulful house sounds of “Keep Me Home,” the record’s first single, don’t grab you, try the driving funk of “Say Yeah,” or the moody, late-night feel of “5 to 4.” Big horns, fat bass lines, and tons of drums set the rules here, as the producers’ DJ backgrounds come squarely into play. Boogie Angst is designed to both move butts and keep the heads nodding at the bar.