Intelligentsia End of Civilizations CDR 13 Tracks 78.41 mins Play Sample:   56K Dialup   Broadband Download Sample:   500K   1.5Mb (Excerpt from track(s) 'Jarreologie')

If infectious melodies and driving rhythms presented in a relatively commercial setting are your thing then Intelligentsia in 'Federation' or 'Civilizations' mode really should tick all the boxes for you. Think of Jarre meets Ultravox meets mainly instrumental synth pop and you will not be too far off the mark. 'End of Civilizations' is a collection of remixes (often quite radically so) from the 'Civilizations' album. There is even more oomph and power here than on the original CD but with an updated contemporary edge. For instance you really can't get much more of a crowd pleasing body mover complete with female vocal colouring than the opener 'Civilization Zero (Live Mix)' or indeed the even more powerful and in yer face 'Interstella (White Light mix)' with OTT manic soloing. They are both amazing tracks exploding with excitement. OK, so Gregorian type chants along with driving rhythms isn't exactly a new concept but 'Interstella (Hyperspace Mix)' pulls it off so well and manages to add a fresh and again highly powerful slant on such a tried and trusted formula. Sequences feature heavily on 'Civilization 23 (Nibiru Mix)' creating a rather Jarre / Jan Hammer hybrid- again simply irresistible. 'New Civilizations (Atlantean Mix)' has a slow but enormously deep and heavy beat as if someone is using the very planet as a drum. 'Touchdown (Andy Hagerty Remix)' is by comparison to what has appeared before quite relaxed though it's still fun (and maybe a little tongue in cheek?). Again there are Jarre touches but I am also reminded, instrumentally at least, of some of the best of 80s synth pop. It can be no surprise that the Jarre references continue in abundance into 'Jarreologie (Global Jarre Mix)' but this time from his classic Oxygene / Equinox period. Great bouncy sequences abound. 'Dreams of the Future (Marcorporation Mix)' is a bit of a schizophrenic track in that it is full of dance references and at times does get a little cheesy but it also has some great power moments when it really rocks. 'Interstella Live @ Osaka Big Cat' is a blistering OTT track that has everything including the kitchen sink thrown into it, which are then propelled from the speakers like lava from a volcano! 'Civilizations 42 (Installation Mix)' is a very different track to anything else here in that it is a nightmarish sound collage. It's like being stalked or pursued. Rather scary and not a rhythm to be heard. 'Civilizations on the Radio' mixes Intelligentsia music with interviews with Mirai. 'Civilizations (Medley Mix)' is pretty much as you would expect, acting as a sampler for the main album. We finish things as we started with Civilizations Zero but this time the Single Mix. It isn't a million miles away from the live version but still a brilliant track. At the time of writing this review I like this album even better than the original. (DL)

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