After the smash success of Deee-lite's debut record
World Clique, and their now-iconic dance club hit "Groove Is In
The Heart", anticipation was high for a follow-up from the
New York-based dance music trio of vocalist Miss Lady Kier,
and producers DJ Towa Tei and Super DJ Dmitri. For their
sophomore record Infinity Within, Deee-Lite opted to venture in
a different direction of sorts. The club-embracing disco-funk
sounds and groovy vibes of World Clique were everpresent,
but while that record contained themes of global togetherness,
Infinity Within took a more socially aware route, with politically
charged themes of environmentalism, (To show their
bonafidese, Infinity Within was one of the first titles to be issued
in an ecologically friendly Eco-pak.) sexual liberation, voting
rights, and critique of the juidicial system.
Taking major inspiration from the ancient Chinese divination text
I Ching, Miss Lady Kier would later explain that Infinity Within
was a natural progression for the group, not a departure.
Elaborating in an interview with Reflex Magazine, she remarked:
"The reason why we titled this new album Infinity Within—to
balance out World Clique’s idea of looking outward and thinking
about unity—is if you look outward, you should look inward to
see what you’re doing as an individual. Because people seem to
be so passive—I’d like to see people turn their TV sets off and
start protesting."
Infinity Within was not the overwhelming commercial success
that World Clique was, but its tracks shined on the Billboard
Dance Club charts, with its lead single "Runaway" reaching
#1 on the chart, bolstered by a Gus Van Sant-directed music
video. The record also featured a slew of top-tier collaborators,
including Parliament veterans Bernie Worrell, Maceo Parker and
Bootsy Collins (Returning from their appearances on World
Clique) as well as Bootsy's brother Catfish Collins, legendary
house DJ Statoshi Tomiie, and rap verses from Michael Franti,
Jamal-Ski, and a pre-"Tennessee" Arrested Development. Even
though critical reaction at the time was cooler than their
debut, over the years Infinity Within has been considered an
underrated gem of 90s dance, a classic of early club and house
music, and a remarkable follow-up for Deee-Lite.