Bloom begins with
Junkie XL's terrific remix of the
Afterglow track "World on Fire." He trashes the hopeful chording of the original nearly completely, instead floating
Sarah McLachlan's vocals over a taut guitar line for an addictive mixture of tension and atmosphere. Book it: this track will resurface as the setup music for a wirework shootout in some Matrix-style film of the very near future.
Sly & Robbie come through with their take on "Train Wreck," keeping the original's pace but adding bright keyboard stabs and a burbling bassline for a subtle pop/R&B feel.
Junior Boys' "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy" also builds a promising, vaguely threatening sort of atmosphere, similar to the feel
McLachlan gave some of the tracks on that record, and
Talvin Singh adds tasteful tabla drums and sitars to the gentle "Answer."
Bloom has its moments, and completist fans will probably want these remixes in their collections. ~ Johnny Loftus