*1/2 Josh Wink

PROFOUND SOUNDS VOL. 1

(Ovum/Ruffhouse)

From Jamie Myerson's unlistenable jungle to Sylk 130's acid-jazz whatsis to Wink's own did-anyone-hear HEREHEAR, Ovum is following Breaking and Fundamental onto the heap of lame vanity labels. This mix CD lays yet another ovum. Now that Wink has become a bedroom name (and a label exec), he sings the praises of artist royalties in the liner notes -- which probably has something to do with why his style of mix 'n' match comes across more like a hardened divide 'n' conquer. Not one of the 14 tracks he's unearthed here (including his own untitled exclusive as bait) reproduces the digital orgasms of his great early singles -- "Don't Laugh" or "Higher State of Consciousness." Instead, he gives you the kind of trancy repetition that you shouldn't be ingesting if you're operating heavy machinery. Certain moments (the buzz on Stacey Pullen's "Sweat," or the vocal on Wink's untitled cut) prick up your ears. And Merio's Dubwork-Meets-Kathie-Lee "K-Mart Shopping" certainly benefits from its sample of Shampale Cartier's "I Got a Man" -- one of the finest (and funniest) singles of 1998. But those thrills are so minor that it'd be most unprofound of me to recommend you purchase this CD. Vol. 1, eh?

-- Kevin John