Sweet Taste of Sin

by Jason Ankeny As tepid and weak as a cup of Sanka, A Sweet Taste of Sin suffers mightily from the disco influences that afflict so much of Dennis Coffey's late-'70s output. The sinuously funky, fuzz-laden guitar, monster drums, and innovative studio effects that galvanized LPs like Hair & Thangs and Evolution are long gone, replaced by generic nightclub grooves and anemic production. Worst of all, even Coffey's songs fall flat, hampered by pedestrian melodies and arrangements. The slow-groove title cut is probably the most memorable moment, although "Calling Planet Earth" enjoyed significant disco airplay. DJs seeking more of the kinetic beats found in volume on Coffey's Sussex releases will be most disappointed, however, as only "Love Encounter" and "Gimmie That Funk" feature percussion breaks worth the search-and-rescue effort.