Check it out—inside and around this disc, the word kool appears a whoppin’ 23 times, ‘kool akkordians,’ ‘kool akoustik guitar,’ kool this, kool that, yeah, yeah, kool on and on. No matter how pretentious it seems, Ardoin’s debut disc is just that—Kool, as in totally. Not because the voice of craziness from brother Chris’ Double Clutchin’ band sez so but because it simply is. Ardoin has so astutely forged one of the freshest, street-hip sounds that hints zydeco could be approaching another generational shift.

Ardoin lays down the funkiest, infectious bop drumming that’s great for a hypnotic mind trance or two, then piles on fantastic arrangements consisting of creamy soul harmonizing, rumbly bass lines (sometimes a bit too rumbly) and a variety of contorted voices and mad laughter induced from laughing gas. Some of it sounds like obnoxious beer-burpy frat boys; other parts sound like straight-ahead nouveau zydeco (“Lil’ Lawman Girl” where Ardoin cracks up about how long it takes some chicky to pull on her tight jeans). If that doesn’t catch your ear, try this on: renowned jazz guitarist Mark Whitfield is in the house on several tracks, carving out speed jazz warblings (“Don’t Fool Me Now”). Fast and furious-paced tunes like “You Better Get Right Girl” will push even the most conditioned dancers; the funky struttin’ “Got My Jelly Workin” is like George Clinton armed with a mashdown accordion. Best of all, Ardoin can craft catchy numbers like “Comment t’appelle” and “Comme Ca, Just Like That!!!” that rock, funk and zydeco all in the same beat. ZydeKool baby, you won’t hear another one like it and that’s kool. No other way to describe it, really.