The Prologue [MP3], which is less than a minute long, wakes us up with an alarm clock and a rooster crow, presumably an allusion to the group's name.

The album seems to be selling on the strength of the group's first single, Il-Shim (One Heart) [RealAudio]. Il Shim [MP3] reminds me a lot of Devo (that's a compliment). I think it's the best song on the album--probably because I like the way the beginning blasts out at the listener.

One good thing about County Kko Kko is the duo's willingness to experiment. Gimme1x Gimme1x [MP3], which the group predicts will be their second hit, resembles a latin dance tune in its use of brass instruments. There are passages in Gimme1x Gimme1x that I wouldn't be surprised to find on a Ricky Martin album.

Just to prove the group isn't a one-trick pony, County Kko Kko has a few ballads on Color of Chameleon. Ae Ryun [MP3] is the first, and it's a fairly standard release. It's pleasant enough, but it won't hit the charts. Track 8 is a Spanish-sounding ballad, complete with classical guitar. The Spanish influence isn't pursued very aggressively, however, and the song could pass for a soft disco piece.

Where Gimme1x Gimme1x just hinted at a latin influence, Ole1x Ole1x [MP3] plants the listener right in the middle of the bullring. This song has potential -- with enough air time, kids at dance clubs everywhere will be shouting "Ole1x Ole1x" in unison while waving their hands over their heads. It would make a good summer release.

County Kko Kko likes the brass sound. In Your Eyes [MP3], like most of their songs, opens with a quasi-trumpet sound. This song defies an easy description of its style. There's definitely a reggae undercurrent, but it's more funk than Caribbean in the end.

Track 7 (Forget1x Forget1x) [MP3] is flat out funk. I'm not sure what they use to make that "boing" noise on the second beat of every measure, but it sounds like a rubber hammer on a saw blade.

Don't laugh, but the first two lines of Track 9 have exactly the same syllables and rhythm of Michael Jackson's Billy Jean. I actually flipped the CD over to make sure I hadn't missed the fact that this was a remake of it. I'm afraid I spend every moment I'm listening to this song trying to sing Billy Jean over top of it.

Track 10 on the other hand, is a remake. This is an R&B rendition of the song. I appreciated the groove on the drum set. The final cut on the album is the night club version of Gimme1x Gimme1x. This is a mile-a-minute "raved-out" version of the earlier track.

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