Elegant Slumming

Dance floor bangers with a hefty dose of vocal sass explode one after the other on this breakthrough from M People. Producer Mike Pickering—onetime DJ at the legendary Hacienda—liberally sprinkles amped-up acid jazz (“ Don’t Look Any Further”) and Hi-NRG magic (“Moving On Up”, “One Night In Heaven”) over the productions but singer Heather Small is this band’s not-so-secret weapon—and her soulful delivery is an undeniable force of nature.