Soccer Committee, Machinefabriek

Limited copies back in stock. Last year's 'Drawn' from the amazing duo of Soccer Committee and Machinefabriek was a flickering beacon of hope in its understated beauty. A record which improved with age, the simple and unfussy folk songs were helped along by Rutger Zuydervelt's careful (and incredibly restrained) electronic production, giving them an individuality only bolstered by Mariska Baars' stunning voice.

It was seemingly inevitable then that Rutger would get round to fielding the tracks out for the remix treatment and like his previous remix album, this is an epic effort in every way. In these mammoth twenty tracks Rutger has managed to hoover up a frightning number of exprimental music's great and good. Francisco Lopez, The Fun Years, Peter Broderick, Taylor Deupree, Lawrence English, Xela and more pop up, and each seems to be in their finest form, no doubt egged on by the quality of the source material. Mariska Barr's breathy tones are the connecting thread throughout the disc, and each artist weaves them on through clouds of static or a chattering instrumental thrum.

The breadth and scope of the collection is admirable; we drift from the delicate folk of Holden Goldmund to Taylor Deupree's typically impressive electronic treatment, through The North Sea's stunning dense noise, Kenneth Kirschner's low-key, roomy electro-acoustics and into Peter Broderick's lushly orchestrated rework - there's never a dull moment. Highlights come thick and fast, but my overall pick comes from The Fun Years who until now have been unproven on the remix circuit. Their track is a tiny slice of perfection - bubbling bass and their patented distorted guitar underpinning the hooks of the original track giving it the best elements of both acts. As usual with Machinefabriek-related releases, this disc comes beautifully packaged and if the success of the last remix album is anything to go by, it will be gone in a flash.... A huge recommendation. (Boomkat)