Tosca - No Hassle

Rating: * * *

Richard Dorfmeister (of Kruder and Dorfmeister) and Rupert Huber of Austrian down-beat duo Tosca have always conjured up laid-back and stylish music.

The delicious Suzuki from 2000 remains a classic of the genre and on fifth album, No Hassle, they take laid-back to a whole new level with a sparse, static and serene set of songs.

It hardly moves much at all. It only works up to a hip-swaying sashay on Springer and some lazy, bobbing house beats kick in on Oyster In May and Elektra Bregenz before falling back into a tranquil and relaxing listen for the remainder of the record.

Rosa is like the Ry Cooder of electronica, with haunting wafts of sonics and an eerie shimmering backdrop.

For some, No Hassle could be a little too easy-listening but think of it more as the perfect soundtrack for reflective slumber.

Scott Kara