It strives to be the antithesis of the rhythm-oriented hip-hop on the radio today.

Serengeti reveals himself as much more than a rapper in this lackadaisical collaboration with New Zealand-based indie musician Renee Louise Carafice. Together with producer Tony Trimm, the pair creates a very unique, low-tempo world that effortlessly invites introspection without becoming preachy.

Serengeti's poignant if sometimes rambling lyrics give the listener the impression of being in an electronic confessional booth, offering absolution to a man who can't seem to figure out exactly who he is. He paints disjointed pictures of places, people and events, but never fully fleshes them out. From this smattering of language, one can assemble their own world that is immediately fantastic and yet utterly relevant. An excellent example of this style can be found in the track "Blueberry Breath": "Fireworks can damage porches/ Family trips to apple orchards/ Look at how the eagle orbits/ Oftentimes things are gorgeous."

Despite the uniqueness of Serengeti's delivery, Carafice is able to match him stylistically, exhaling lyrics in thin clouds of earnest chutzpah. Her voice layers perfectly, both when singing duets with Serengeti and her own vocal doubling. At times she comes off as soft and sweet, other times confident to the point of sounding standoffish. She dances at the edge of both of these extremes, and switches between them quickly. "Don't feel nervous if I'm taking off my pants," she declares in "Debt." "I just wanna dance. I just wanna dance."

The lush, synthetic background that frames these two voices is a departure from Serengeti's earlier works, and certainly uncommon in this genre. It strives to be the antithesis of the rhythm-oriented hip-hop on the radio today. In fact, it may be unfair to group Yoome with the rap/hip hop sort, as it is much more of an ambient electronic album. The music drones softly, preferring to buttress the vocals rather than stand out on its own. As such, The Boredom of Me seems tailor-made for headphones.

The final verdict: Yoome is an album that strives to be different not by trying to be different, but rather by playing on the strengths of an eclectic pairing. A- | Joshua Vise

RIYL: Daydreaming to a soundtrack.

Yoome can be found online at http://www.myspace.com/boredomofme and http://www.audio8.com/artists/yoome.html

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