A 15-track hodgepodge of mellow groove and downbeat lounge, The Sweet Spot was presumably concocted to showcase the vocal talent of several breathy local divas. It’s not so much that the ladies succeed — although in most cases, they do — they anchor. They’re the glue that holds together the hodgepodge; the coat hanger from which the fusion dangles.

Joe B. and Mark Sound make up the Vineyard, the production duo that sprouted this luscious vision. Their varied textures and wily beats render each song an island of sorts, to be considered on its own rather than as part of a collection; the songs are really unified by only near-uniform vocal tones that slide from soulful to breezy, but not much further. Some tracks step to the fore and command your attention. “Muchos Chavos” is one, though it’s more obtrusive than enticing.

Spacey, hypnotic and addictive, “Downtown” — featuring the ghostly echoes of Thuy-Linh — is the top offering, while album opener “Bring the Music” is as close to a median as you’ll find on here. The eminently danceable, polished and poppy “Lies” also resonates. “That Kinda Love” shines, too — it’s a lovely way for the album to wander off, optimistic yet noncommittal, memorable yet coy. The same could be said for the disc as a whole. There is much promise to be found on The Sweet Spot, which touts its female contributors as “up and coming.” While that may be true, none seems more up-and-coming than the Vineyard itself.

This article appears in Apr 15-21, 2004.