The Black Dog – Babylon (warner.esp)

The Black Dog is the sort of artist that, just as you are wondering what they're doing or where they've been, come back at you with the – always surprising - answers. Last time it was a set of remixes of Lalo Schrifrin's Bullitt (from the 60's movie, as used in the Ford Puma ad.). Now we are presented with a collaboration with Israeli vocal sculptress Ofra Haza, with a raft of remixes from Lazonby, Terminalhead, Scanner and an obscure genius masquerading under the pseudonym of The Scourge Of The Earth. I think I'll raise a few eyebrows when I "exclusively" reveal that said Scourge is the latest trading name of none other than The KLF's Jimmy Cauty. And it's a classic return to form - screaming babies, warplanes, tanks, bombs and all!

As for Babylon, the music is like nothing I've heard before. Egyptian downbeat, anyone? Ofra Haza's vocalisings, frankly, haven't changed much since Paid in Full. But at least here they're used in a fresh way, so maximum points to the Dog (and "nul" points to Mystery Year favourites the Sisters of Mercy). Scanner's remix is very standard, so skip straight for the Terminalhead mix – with which Nick Warren recently opened his set at Cream! Peter Lazonby has apparently described his interpretation as "my best work to date", although you should be the judge of that.

'Babylon' is as frighteningly pioneering as the mystical civilisation that inspired it. The Black Dog continues to confuse and entertain in equal measures. 9/10

Low Res - Approximate Love Boat (Plug Research)

Low Res is Milwaukee-based (via Hollywood and Tokyo) Danny Zelomky. Previously appearing as Crank on a Plug Research compilation, you may have also spotted Juan Atkins' Low Res collaborations on R&S and Metroplex. Approximate Love Boat, Zelomky's debut LP is 14 tracks of black-and-white suspense film electronica. The whole thing is a concept album based around the story of an abortive trip into space to collect sounds and substances from the planet Love Boat. But when our hero's computer crashed they had to recreate what they found - what we have here - an "Approximate Love Boat".

Convinced?

Nothing is more freaky than the track 'Sinister Ice Cream Truck' which, along with 'GeneK' and 'Field Holler', reminds me of the brilliant debut last year from City Slang's 8 Frozen Modules. Hiss, crackle, humm, beat and pulses - mixed in with dark tempo downbeat are the key elements that unite both of those albums. There is madness too – and, in tracks like Wag, Evansence (Reprise) and Anestheme, the Juan Atkins connections becomes crystal clear. 7/10


This review also published in: DJ magazine