Having found mainstream chart success with his anthem "My My My", Armand Van Helden follows it up with Nympho, a full length album on Norman Cook's Southern Fried label. If the aforementioned hit was your introduction to Armand or you only remember him from "You Don't Know Me", the maniacal screeching of Virgin Killer on the opening title track might come as a surprise. In short, Nympho is a rock/dance crossover with the emphasis on dance music that rocks. For the most part each tune consists of a dark, distorted bassline with guitars and angry vocals, such as "Brainwashing" and the fantastically dark (in spite of its childlike rhyming) "Got Over You". There is respite from the aggressive assault in the shape of 2nd single "Hear My Name" and the grin-inducing terrace anthem "When the Lights Go Down"-both exude the same sing-along poppiness as "My My My", also included here. The nearest comparison to the sound of Nympho would be Deep Dish's "Flashdance" although as ever, Armand's production is rougher, more raw and dirtier that any of his peers. A great album for club kids, maybe not crossover enough for rockers, but if you like crunching guitars in your house and don't mind the odd cowbell, this is definitely the album for you. -David Trueman.