Crack

11/20

We’d be lying if we said we were familiar with the work of Coppe’, dubbed ‘the godmother of Japanese electronica’, but with 15 albums to her name, this series of remixes of her song Yogurt, dealt with by the roster and pals of London-based Bit-Phalanx label seems a decent enough place to start. What's more, with proceeds going to Japanese Tsunami Relief, the album is for an exceptional cause as well as being a genuine labour of love.

For the most part, it’s a genuinely engrossing listen. With a slight frustration that the original isn’t included as a point of reference, this is far more varied and interesting than 14 versions of the same song has any right to be, Coppe’’s saccharine vocal is shaped and twisted into all manner of forms. Moments of note include former Sneaker Pimp Kelli Alli’s enjoyably glitchy representation, an offering from Bristol-based cut and copy maestro Jilk, all blips and squelches jumping between tempos as if it’s a competition, a smooth synth effort from Minotaur Shock and something downright ludicrous by Libythth that’d we’d rather not think too much about.

Of course, after an hour or so the recurring vocal lines, and in fact the futurist braindance vibes in general, get a bit much, but this is an intriguing album and a challenging exercise pulled off with a fair degree of aplomb.

http://www.bit-phalanx.com/

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Words: Geraint Davies