Papua New Guinea Translations

Amazon.co.uk That FSOL's Papua New Guinea is a classic record is an undisputed fact. Celestial choir voices, colourful bird song, nebulous synth swirls and wistful flute all conspire to conjure up images of a tropical paradise, and its iridescent beauty has touched many a soul over the years. Whether it justifies an entire album's worth of remixes though (all done by FSOL) is a different matter. The opening track is the original version--so far so good. The "Papsico" mix takes the tune up to even higher plateaus of happy escapism, while translation number three, "The Lovers", ushers in a slick jazz-funk groove and added bongos. However, at the end, a particularly lengthy electric guitar solo sneaks in. This is the turning point. The initial chinks of doubt are widened as the "Wooden Ships" mix employs even more guitars for a slightly epic, prog-rock remix. Things get back to the dancefloor for a second on the breakbeat-fuelled "Great Marmalade Mama In The Sky" mix but less than a minute in and guess what? Yep, more Clapton-style squeals. By the time you hit the deplorable "Requiem", you realise the whole thing is an indulgent farce and FSOL have let the hype go to their heads. Do yourself a favour and stick to the original single, which has still never been bettered. --Paul Sullivan