Despite the politically incorrect album title, there is nary a trace of aggression on this sultry, scintillating, and rather sophisticated electro-pop platter. Mr. Meeble is actually a trio comprised of Devin Fleenor, Michael Plaster, and Blain Klitzke with considerable help from their friends - most notably the brilliant vocalists they employ: Yasmine Iliya, Ezrel McCowan, Monique Blue, and Riana Riggs. Akin to Floetry, Erykah Badu, Morcheeba, Air, Everything But The Girl and queen mother of all things quiet storm - Sade - Mr. Meeble seduces with subtle grooves. Socially conscious hipsters will salivate over “Raindrops” which mashes the Hal David - Burt Bacharach standard with slam poetry. McCowan’s delivery of “Dragonfly” evokes images of Lenny Kravitz in lounge lizard mode. And the thundering drum track to “100 Pills” - a somnambulant tale of love gone awry - is the stuff of John Bonham! Sure, you can spot the influences (see above references), and the battalion of singers somewhat disrupts the continuity, but Never Trust The Chinese is satisfaction guaranteed. Shall we slow dance?
--Tom Semioli [July 7, 2009]
