The Future Sound Of London - Papua New Guinea Translations

In 1992, Future Sound of London released the single "Papua New Guinea". Fueled by electronica-meets-dub rhythms, an insistent sequencer pattern, and the sampled voice of Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance, it floated alongside Orb's "Little Fluffy Clouds" as one of the signature sounds from those trippy years. On this disc, FSOL creates a "Papua New Guinea" canon with eight variations on the original theme. As opposed to the guest remixers who twiddle the tune on the reissue of FSOL's Accelerator, here, the boys retool their own work. There's an Isaac Hayes-like "Shaft" revision on a version called "The Lovers" and an ambient chamber music rendition with banjo on "Requiem." Filtered through acid rock guitars on "Wooden Ships," the original "Papua" is rendered completely unrecognizable. And if this isn't enough, the bonus CD of Accelerator Deluxe has 10 more versions. Translations also includes the original video of "Papua New Guinea." FSOL can be accused of milking their greatest hit for all it's worth, but the milk is still sweet.

1. 12" Original

2. Papsico

3. Lovers

4. Wooden Ships

5. Great Marmalade Mama in the Sky

6. Requiem

7. Things Change Like the Patters and Shades That Fall from the Sun

8. Big Blue

9. Original Papua New Guinea [Multimedia Track]

★★★