Germany continues its takeover of the world, and N.O.H.A.'s NEXT PLATEAU, which takes on the more uptempo side of the future jazz armistace, is a strong footsoldier, if not a major player. "Things That Are Beautiful Haunt Me" doesn't quite haunt the way it should, and the gypsy leanings of "Balkan Hot-Step" and the quasi-Caribbean "Chillin'" feel pandering. "Peking Express," thankfully, doesn't indulge in Orientalist cliche, but instead goes for uptempo funk. As well, the angry woman lyrics of "Do You Know" work, despite the second voice, and "We Glide On" is appropriately dreamy. A few tracks ("Next Plateau") are just out-and-out bland, and some seem to go on a little too long with extraneous codas. The album doesn't quite make it to the next plateau.