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