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DEEP DISH George Is On  Positiva stars  ***

Remarkably, it's been seven years since Washington DC-based Iranians Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi have had a new album on release. A string of remixes, singles and productions have taken up the slack since 1998's triumphant Junk Science, and it's the chart-friendliness of their more recent work that has had the biggest influence on the new album. Dark and robust house bangers with a poppy sheen are the Deep Dish specialities these days, as Flashdance and a cover of Fleetwood Mac's Dreams (with Stevie Nicks doing the warbling) show. Those looking for something a little deeper will find the gorgeous Say Hello (with vocalist Anousheh Khalili adrift on classical piano chords), Dub Shepherd (slithery twisted house) and Sergio's Theme (a cinematic sweep by any other name) to be to their taste. Sweet, slick and strong without ever quite reaching new heights. www.deepdish.com

Jim Carroll