HISTORY REVISITED

The remixes on this album are not those which appeared on collections such as "A-sides, B-Sides" and "Remixed", which were carried out with the approval and involvement of the band (with the exception here of the Dub mix of "Happiness is easy"). These versions were commissioned by the band's record label Parlophone without the band's agreement, indeed Talk Talk subsequently took the label to court over the matter.

The tracks selected are most of those which appeared on the "Natural history, the best of" compilation of Talk Talk singles, hence the name of this collection. A variety of remixers are hired to add their treatment to the tracks, including Paul Webb, Justin Robertson and Fluke.

To be honest, it is hard to see what all the fuss was about. The songs are still entirely recognisable, most of the remixes being unadventurous and superficial. Apart from a slightly extended intro and some prosaic dance rhythms, Gary Miller's version of "Such a shame" for example is hard to distinguish from the original album track. Likewise, his work on "Today" appears to consist of the insertion of a few extraneous noises and little else, the remix running to a mere 3½ minutes.

Fluke's version of "Life's what you make it" does at least try to generate some interest, the jungle noises and Two Tone beat which opens the track catching the ear. All that happens thereafter though is that the original track is overlaid on the new beat.

It almost seems as if Parlophone were too worried about upsetting the band, and ended up with an album designed by a committee. In the end, such compromises never work, and they ended up pleasing no one.

An opportunity missed.