The Beat Box Hot Plate

• Deborah Cox, "Absolutely Not" (J Records single). Mac Quayle & Hex Hector provide the supple restructurings that will surely take this to the top of the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Those that embraced the singer's "Things Just Ain't the Same" and "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" won't be disappointed with this major slab of diva-house.

• The Chemical Brothers, "It Began in Afrika" (Freestyle Dust/Astralwerks single). What do such globally revered DJs as Roger Sanchez, Danny Tenaglia, François K., and Paul Oakenfold have in common? They've all been championing the forward-thinking Brothers' new single, which effortlessly intertwines elements of tribal, disco, and progressive house. "It Began in Afrika" is a fine preview of the act's forthcoming, as-yet-untitled fourth album, due early next year.

• India.Arie, "Brown Skin" (Motown single). Gorgeous in its original slinky R&B version, "Brown Skin" is ready for peak-hour club play with these soulfully electronic remixes from production duo Karmadelic.

• New Order, "Crystal" (Reprise single). The intensely anticipated first single from New Order's equally anticipated album (Get Ready) is a sublime slice of alt-leaning pop. Remixers Digweed & Muir, Lee Coombs, and John Creamer & Stephane K. deliver top-notch progressive house and trance stylings.

• Amber, "Yes" (Tommy Boy single). With "Yes," Amber delivers yet another very stylish dance-pop gem. On the remix front, Illicit surrounds the singer's sensual delivery with filtered effects, sturdy house rhythms, and funky guitar licks.

• Jamiroquai, "Little L" (Sony U.K. single). No one else knows how to revisit the disco era quite like Jamiroquai. On "Little L," delicious Chic- and Change-inflected grooves provide the sturdy foundation over which Jay Kay does his Stevie Wonder-hued thing. And Bob Sinclar's remix is more disco than disco itself. Rather festive, if you ask us.

michael paoletta