Dani Siciliano
Issue #29
Slappers (!K7)
By Amber Drea
Published: September 1st, 2006 | 12:00am
Dani Siciliano, whose smooth voice defined hit tracks by house producer Matthew Herbert, does her own thing on the follow-up to solo debut Likes .... A refreshingly original combination of glitchy, minimal electronica and quirky, poppy R&B, Slappers sounds like a collaboration between Missy Elliot and Björk with a young Tracey Thorn from Everything But The Girl on vocals. Siciliano’s jazz roots show in the way she uses elements of techno, electro, IDM, and hip-hop to create a style that can’t be categorized.
Though Herbert helped produce the album, Siciliano seems to be exerting her independence, both musically and lyrically. The Prince-influenced title track is an anthem for the ladies: “Hey sister, get up off of your hands and knees … / If you speak, then speak your mind / Use your head, not your behind.” One of the record’s best songs, “Didn’t Anybody Tell You,” incorporates beatboxing, a funky guitar riff, layered harmonies, and a hook that would make Britney or Beyoncé jealous. The trance-y, dancehall-flavored “Think Twice” and the hilariously robotic “Wifey” address the dangers of unreasonable expectations and losing one’s identity in romantic relationships. Siciliano easily fluctuates between sincere emotion (“Too Young”) and tongue-in-cheek sarcasm (“Be My Producer”), sometimes within the same song.
Other than the strangely out-of-place “Why Can’t I Make You High,” which features members of British rockabilly band Kitty, Daisy, and Lewis, Siciliano has produced a consistent yet unpredictable record that shows she’s well on her way to becoming an established solo artist.
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