Dita Von Teese extended her brand beyond burlesque into fashion, beauty, and writing in ways that were unmistakably hers. Her forays into music were just as apt: Collaborations with Die Antwoord and Monarchy capitalized on her mystique and breathy vocals. While those projects borrowed her glamour, her self-titled debut album deepens it. Dita Von Teese was written and co-produced by Sebastien Tellier, who was inspired to work with her after seeing her dance to one of his songs. Considering how playful, erotic and ever so slightly mysterious his own music is, it's hard to imagine a better collaborator for her. He expertly tailors his music to his muse -- this is sparkling, shimmering fantasy pop that only a woman who performs in a giant martini glass could sing. Tellier and co-producers the Mind Gamers (keyboardist John Kirby and drummer Daniel Stricker) create seductive, dreamlike atmospheres on tracks like "Parfum," which sets a mood as alluringly present and elusive as perfume itself. Even though Von Teese doesn't consider herself a singer, her wispy voice is perfect for "Sparkling Rain"'s soft-focus Euro-pop and "Rendez-Vous"' tropical sensuality. Her willingness to go beyond the obvious makes the album more than a vanity project. On several songs, she and her collaborators deftly explore French pop's history. "La Vie Est un Jeu"s beckoning vocals, trilling piano, and whistling are as light and sweet as a macaron. "Porcelaine," a duet with Tellier, updates Serge Gainsbourg's traditions, while "My Lips on Your Lips"' hip-swaying beats and gliding chords recall the sound artists like Tellier and Air originated in the late '90s and early 2000s. Elsewhere, Von Teese portrays characters that feel like different sides of her persona. She's a high-flying predator on "Bird of Prey," a starlet lost in decadent illusions on "Fevers and Candies," and a vengeful ex-lover on "Dangerous Guy." The skill with which she plays them adds to the feeling that Dita Von Teese is the musical equivalent of a burlesque routine, artfully revealing and concealing with evocative -- and provocative -- results. ~ Heather Phares, Rovi

1		Sparkling Rain
2		Rendez-vous
3		La vie est un jeu
4		My Lips on Your Lips
5		Bird of Prey
6		Parfum
7		Fevers and Candies
8		Saticula
9		Dangerous Guy
10		Porcelaine

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