Future Sound Of London – Cascade (iTunes)

With last year’s Teachings From The Electronic Brain compilation, Virgin are really setting the history of FSOL straight. The only band reviewed this month to be the subject of a question on University Challenge, their latest reissues are four digital-only singles. These are probably the best value digital singles you’ll ever download though, as each is made up of each least six parts totalling well over 40 minutes. There are two from 1994’s ambient epic Liferorms (the title track and Cascade) and two from 1996’s Dead Cities (My Kingdom and We Have Explosive). It’s the Cities material that has dated, all big-beat hooks and little in the way of subtlety. But the Lifeforms material holds strong, especially the suite of mixes for Cascade – the must buy item of this set. ****