Vibert's an eclectic electronic artist and remixer with a sense of humor and a taste for the unexpected. Cole's a world-renowned pedal-steel guitarist whose hunger for new sounds knows no bounds. Together, they've recorded one of the year's most entertaining albums -- a synthesis of Hawaiian music, jetsetting lounge-pop and drum'n'bass.

In the hands of less accomplished or more serious artists, such a project would undoubtedly turn out to be a horrifying debasement of all that we hold dear. Be glad Cole and Vibert thought of it first.

You might recognize Stop the Panic as a less frenetic, less-sample-driven approach to the concepts explored by Tipsy. With Cole's dreamy, slippery pedal-steel chords as a foundation, Vibert lays down a structure of beats, mixing hip-hop and d'n'b, then adds keyboards, samples and whatever else is readily available.

Any source is fair game. "Swing Lite-Alright" pairs an exotica-jazz loop and stylish strings with a chilling sound-effect straight from Dr. Who. "Hipalong Hop" jams hip-hop beats into a loose-limbedcountry-western groove. "Cheng Phooey" transfixes a percolating 303 techno rhythm with futuristic slide noodling, while "Baby Steps" unleashes Martin Denny-style jungle music against its beat-intensive latter-era namesake.

I particularly enjoyed "Songs of the Night Life", in which Vibert enhances an Air-like easy-stepping rhythm with cheese-laden analog keys and, I think, ukeleles, while Cole tosses Santo and Johnny references to the wings. Sweet.

If you found yourself sneering in disapproval at any of those descriptions, Stop the Panic isn't for you. Its almost complete lack of throbbing techno beats and linear melodies make it more of a leisurely listen than an all-out pulse pounder -- this is dance music for people who don't have air conditioning. If you're into chemical-assisted listening (which I'm not), I'm sure Stop the Panic will leave you even more slack-jawed than you'd otherwise have been. And if, by some chance, you're headed to Hawaii any time soon, take my advice and lock this disc in the rental car stereo from the moment you leave the lot. It's perfect. You'll see.