Weasels in the Dance-Music Hen House

Russia's DJ Vadim (whose works include 1997's U.S.S.R. Repertoire) specializes in an unusually cinematic brand of trip-hop. His beats pulse with a viscous heaviness, their weight sucking the listener deep into an insidious drama of slowly unfolding melodies.

Neotropic (no full-length album yet) joins Chocolate Weasel in the land of make-believe. Their song "Vicious Blooms" comes across like lounge music made in the rain forest -- a jubilant if silly torrent of warm energy. All four of these artists and much of the rest of Ninja Tune's roster can be heard on the label's double-CD Funkungfusion compilation, scheduled for release at the end of this month.

Chocolate Weasel, the Herbaliser, DJ Vadim, and Neotropic appear Tuesday, April 14, at Onyx, 245 22nd St, Miami Beach; 674-6699. Showtime is 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $12.