Deep Dish

As indicated by George Is On, a just-released set on the Thrive imprint, Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi are eager to cross over by any means necessary. The package's blatantly commercial ploys include the dubious "Flashing for Money," which mashes together "Flashdance," the twosome's irresistible club fave from last year, with (gurgle) Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" and an unwarranted remake of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams," featuring new vocals by veteran irritant Stevie Nicks. Fortunately, the instincts of this Iranian-American twosome are better balanced --and just as accessible -- on other tracks, including "No Stopping for Nicotine" and "Sacramento," a pair of moody dance-rock excursions highlighted by hook-heavy production and the throaty vocals of guest singer Richard Morel. The strength of George's best material more than validates Deep Dish's slot near the top of the Global Dance Festival bill, which also includes Paul Oakenfold, Bad Boy Bill, Dieselboy, Junkie XL, Steve Smooth, Motorcycle and plenty of other sound-spinners and music manipulators. The nods to Nicks and Mark Knopfler are a lot harder to justify, except by the guy handling the Dishers' finances. But that's his cross to bear.