THE BLUE DAHLIA
The Blue Dahlia (Stardust Records)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Lounge-connoisseur Skip Heller keeps sailing his craft to deeper waters. This time around he takes his always-impeccable cast of co-conspirators into very serious romantic territory. "Stardust," "Love Is Here To Stay," "Penthouse Serenade"--this smooth platter sits well besides Sinatra's Music For Lovers. Heller's sidekicks include resurrected cocktail-hero Robert Drasnin, sometime X drummer D.J. Bonebreak, and Athan Maroulis, from--ahem--industrial heavyweights Spahn Ranch, on vocals. Please sit down and lemme explain. Though an odd choice, one that reeks of perverse sensationalism, Maroulis actually has a real crooner's delivery that sounds quite at home in these Nelson Riddle-type arrangements. L.A. is a town full of glitzy surprises, and, thankfully, we have Skip Heller as our guide.

© 2000 - John Sekerka