Simian Mobile Disco - 'Sample And Hold' (Wichita) Released 28/07/08

Remix albums. Usually, the only people who buy them are obsessive about the band in question to the point of knowing the bass player’s pet rabbit’s middle name, and are going to love whatever drivel they stick an extra trumpet loop on.

Mostly, they’re little more than the bits that fell on the floor while the proper music was made, then got scooped up and stuck together when the act became profitable. Generally, they’re ego trips where every whim an artist thought was a good idea, but was actually as relevant as U2, gets brought back because all remix record songs must last 8 minutes and it’s hard to fill that time when you only have one musical idea.

By and large, they’re remixed by a bunch of superstar DJs you think you should know but won’t ever get round to checking out because you’re too busy listening to the National. Sometimes, though, they’re quite good. Well, if they’re not good, they at least include a purpose at no extra charge. Maybe even sound a bit purposeful. Simian Mobile Disco’s 'Sample and Hold' does, admittedly, include intentions, ideas, even innovation. ‘Wooden’, remixed by Danton Eaprom, is a stylistic take on the original; minimal but attention holding, tickling synths and uninterested bass hold together a quiet, mellow stroll through the song.

‘It’s The Beat’ is all a bit crass and reeks of trying very hard, with lyrics like “one for the treble, two for the bass” veering the cheesy side of chic on this version. The record has its moments though, it ebbs and flows with flaws and showy flourishes of excitement, notably on old single ‘Hustler’, complete with a wonderfully needless eight second orchestral intro.

It all goes on too long though. You soon realise you’re not in a seedy club at 4am, where this should be heard, and concentration dips. This can reach the extent when you perk up, intrigued that a bonus track is sampling ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, before realising the album has finished and Simon & Garfunkel comes after Simian Mobile Disco on your iPod.

Whenever this duo has altered other people’s tracks, notably Klaxon’s ‘Magick’ and The Rapture’s ‘Whoo! Alright, Yeah...Uh Huh’, it’s gave it an edge, a difference. Here, while allowing some musical contemporaries to tamper with their own tracks, it is unclear whether the songs simply aren’t strong enough or the DJs brought in are not inspired enough. Either way, it’s another one for super-fans only.