Tom Middleton’s last compilation CD, The Sound of the Cosmos, was the best mix EVER! His new one sounds very eclectic and I really look forward to being challenged by it.

Ever wondered how you survived for so long without hearing ǃ˙Sunshine Of Your Loveǃ˘ as a female-vocalled soul tune? ǃ˙Pastime Paradiseǃ˘ redone with bongos? ǃ˙AinǃÙt No Sunshineǃ˘ being tackled by Horace Andy, sounding like a wounded soldier crawling through the trenches as skank artillery still fires around him? MOR Italo-house classic ǃ˙Gypsy Woman (SheǃÙs Homeless)ǃ˘ being turned into the lounge-jazz track it always was at heart? Harpers Bizzare having a bash at ǃ˙Knock On Woodǃ˘ and injecting it with neat serotonin straight from a chill-out syringe? Ramsey Lewis performing alchemy by making ǃ˙Dear Prudenceǃ˘ bearable (his secret: remove the lyrics)? Even Senor Coconut, purveyors of ǃ˙You donǃÙt have to be mad to work hereǃ∂ǃ˘ covers to the hipster elite for the past few years get redeemed by their take on ǃ˙Smooth Operatorǃ˘. Of course, itǃÙs not a patch on the original, but then we get blessed withǃ∂ Oh my god. ǃ˙Chhupke Kaun Ayaǃ˘ by Usha Uthup. ItǃÙs ǃ˙DonǃÙt Stop Till You Get Enoughǃ˘. Translated and redone as a Bollywood dance number.

Tom Middleton – The Trip – Stylus Magazine