It certainly isn't a new idea to remix an entire album. Massive Attack and Primal Scream put out excellent dub versions of Protection and Vanishing Point, respectively. Danger Mouse pulled off the aural publicity stunt of the year with The Grey Album. Even crap bands like Linkin Park have been known to do it. Super Furry Animals have followed this trend with Phantom Phorce, essentially a track-by-track remixed version of last year's excellent Phantom Power. With this band, though, you know you're going to get something a bit different.
The limited edition CD comes in a case that can be reconfigured to resemble your own acid-fried Super Furry jukebox. The next surprise comes when you start playing the album; the "executive producer," a certain Kurt Stern, has been roped in to give a running commentary over the tracks. This is probably an attempt to overcome the lack of cohesiveness in remix albums, particularly those where a multitude of producers have been brought in. The trick is mildly amusing at first but does start to wear a bit thin on repeated listens. However, any amount of stoned rambling cannot detract from the quality and variety of the tunes on this collection.
The Super Furries are a band with impeccable taste. You know this from the variety of influences on their records and their willingness to experiment. They have pulled together a stellar array of alternative producers here, from indie stalwarts (The High Llamas and Brave Captain a.k.a. Martin Carr of Boo Radleys fame) to hip-hop producers (Mario Caldato Jr and Boom Bip) via laptop acts such as Wauvenfold and Weevil. There are many highlights, but I would have to single out the aforementioned Brave Captain for his mix of "Bleed Forever," which begins with rising horns, switches suddenly to piano, and climaxes with a breakbeat version of ELO. There's also a great human beatbox version of "Golden Retriever" from Killa Kela, but Kieran Hebden trumps the lot with his Four Tet version of "The Piccolo Snare," which sounds like The Mamas and Papas singing through an echoing percussive hailstorm. There's also an additional EP which includes the mental "Motherfokker," featuring the new Welsh kings of grime, Goldie Lookin' Chain.
Not all tracks are superb, but the general quality is very good on Phantom Phorce, which is the most important criteria when diverse artists are pulled together. It's a great way to hear a record radically contorted into something new and, more importantly, an introduction to a whole host of artists you may never have encountered before.
Disc One:
1. Hello Sunshine - remixed by Weevil
2. Liberty Belle - remixed by Mario Caldato Jnr
3. Golden Retriever - remixed by Killa Kela
4. Sex , War And Robots - remixed by Wauvenfold
5. The Piccolo Snare - remixed by Four Tet
6. Venus + Serena - remixed by Massimo
7. Father, Father - remixed by Boom Bip
8. Bleed Forever - remixed by Bravecaptain
9. Out Of Control - remixed by Zan Lyons
10. Cityscape Skybaby - remixed by Minotaur Shock
11. Valet Parking - remixed by High Llamas
12. The Undefeated - remixed by Llwybr Llaethog
13. Slow Life - remixed by Sir Doufous Styles
14. Valet Parking - remixed by Force Unknown
15. Hello Sunshine - remixed by Freiband
Disc Two:
1. Slow Life
2. Motherfokker (featuring Goldie Lookin' Chain)
3. Lost Control
4. Re-working of Out of Control