Plastic Compilation, Volume 2

by

Various Artists

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This is a departure from #1, as it focuses on just two types of songs: danceable club tunes, and Fatboy Slim style big-beat stuff. Slim actually has two songs here, the beat-by-the-numbers Wildchild remix of "Renegade Master" and a better attempt on Cornershop's "Brimful of Asha"- making that song at least listenable. There's a remix of "Comin' Back" that adds swirling tones, a new breakbeat, a cowbell and more- good but not worthy of being the first track on the disc. The gem on this is the always mandatory Sarah McLachlan tune, Delerium's magnificent, throbbing crowd pleaser "Silence." You also get an older but enjoyable William Orbit piece "Water From a Vine Leaf" that follows "Silence" nicely. What else...the b-boy tune from the Freestylers, which is better than either Fatboy song, although it's Raggae-rap won't appeal to everyone. Heck, it doesn't appeal to me, but the song has an exuberance that raises it above generic big beat schlock. There's the electro/ robotic "The Freaks" by Uberzone which doesn't do much, and the electro bore by TPC (which is BT and Sasha making a huge departure from their usual fare). The end of the disc has the French-singing/guitar/d'n'b/orchestral "Sur Tes Pas" (a pleasant surprise) and the Chemical Brothers remix of "I think I'm in Love," which is an interesting foreshadow of their Surrender album.

So whether you like this album depends on if you want a cd that starts off with some good club tunes, turns to big beat halfway through, and ends with electro/wierdness. I give thee a 3.