Hailing a new release as an artistic and commercial breakthrough is always risky, but in the case of Chris Ardoin and NuStep’s sophomore effort, that may be the best description yet. Their 2005 debut release, Sweat, not only signaled a major artistic direction for the Lake Charles zydeco group, but it also yielded a regional hit of the same name. This time, Ardoin capitalized on the popularity of “Sweat” and crafted a contemporary R&B dance remix and released it as a single to increase the demand for a new full-length disc. The ploy worked, but the song was quickly pirated and hawked by unscrupulous club DJs. It was almost too successful, but so far the release of M.V.P. has expanded Ardoin’s draw to include a sizable R&B faction that normally wouldn’t attend a zydeco event.

Ardoin describes his music as “zydeco & rhythm, and it may initially be jarring for the typical zydeco zealot. Ardoin has ditched the hot licks and jaw-dropping accordion mastery, instead using the little box to pump out relentless riffs that serve as a baseline. Story-telling songs are the focus as Ardoin stacks his harmony vocals, keyboards and special effects on top of his accordion and NuStep’s rhythms. Several songs are totally computer-generated, which is radical for zydeco, and there’s the experimental “NuStep Anthem,” which is more akin to a hip high school marching band with its earth-rumbling bass drum, rolling snares and simulated tubas. Yet, the album is not all radical genre shifting. Some songs (“Whose Da Boss,” “Canaille & Jalou”) still have that signature Ardoin bouncy snap.

Miles Davis has been said to have changed the course of jazz several times; one has to wonder if Ardoin will have a similar impact on his own turf.