Cruiser - HAPPYROBOTS: programmedtoloveyou

There’s something very appealing about remix albums; they’re bursting with the ideas and talents of dozens of collaborators, but, unlike compilations, have the running thread of the remixed band to hold things together nicely. This version of Fife five piece Cruiser’s HAPPYROBOTS:smilingpeople is one such example, although a group of great minds doesn’t necessary guarantee consistency. Dedo’s Retrogamer is a standout track; a bouncy hip-hop number, complete with Stephen Hawking-style vocals, as are Ribside’s beautiful version of Sunshine Warrior and Tiger Tiger’s wooshy interpretation of A Key That Hurts. That said, it’s not all great; videogame music maestros Laugh & Peace’s contributions are a little uneventful, and there unfortunately seems to be a dull moment for every euphoric one. To be fair, though remixing an acclaimed album is no easy task, and, if anything, it leaves the listener hungry for some new material from Cruiser, which is luckily due out this winter.