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By Dan Leone

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I WAS MOMENTARILY distracted by a visitor when "Said and Done," a song from an unreleased recording by Spiritual Machine, began to play. As soon as I started listening again, I thought Annie Lennox was singing, which was nice, except I love Sheherazde Stone – one-half of Spiritual Machine – and I wanted to hear her. The illusion lasted no more than a second, but it's worth mentioning. You know the punch line, so I won't go on, except to say that when I heard Stone had a new project (I last saw her with Josh Jones, providing the soundtrack to Campo Santo's I Feel Love), I hoped she'd be singing R&B but allowed for the possibility that perhaps the music would more jazz-based. I was wrong (twice, actually), and truth be told, it took me a little while to adjust. Spiritual Machine – Stone and the composer-instrumentalist-computer jockey who calls himself V – have a coming-out party this week at Slim's. And that's where you can hear the smooth, soulful pop (as opposed to, say, smooth pop-influenced soul) that surprised the heck out of me. Stone's rich vocals are suspended in a lush, intricately crafted atmosphere – call it a cloud of sound – and the songs have more hooks than a walk-in closet. It will be interesting to hear the same material played live, and it's always interesting to hear Stone sing. 9 p.m., 333 11th St., S.F. $12. (415) 621-0333. (J.H. Tompkins)