Mimosa

No, it isn’t a spanking new album that managed to sneak out without one drop of hype. Rather, Mimosa is another of those hiatus filling, pre-Christmas odd ball collections of alternative versions and takes.

Hence, the brooding strangeness of an acoustic version of ‘Scooby Snacks’ (Schmoove Version), which is best described as being very, ahem. schmoozy. When the joke is repeated on ‘Bombin’ The L (Circa 1956 Version)’ it starts to wear thin. Much better is the playful rendering of karaoke classic ‘I’m Not In Love’ by 10cc.

The crown jewels here belong to the fantastic cover of Louis Armstrong’s ‘We Have All the Time in The World (Copa Cobana Version)’, which would be a good long-shot as a Christmas Number One. There is an impassioned, yet ultimately one-dimensionally growled version of ‘Coney Island Girl’, redeemed on the final lap with the beautiful kiss goodbye of ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’. This is followed by an uncredited secret track that is easily the best thing on offer here by a mile. Huey’s seductively smooth lounge-fly serenading makes way for blissfully soothing beats and luxurious jazzy codas for a mega-chill out that could even sound at home on an Air album.

Occasional surprises aside, Mimosa is one of those purchases aimed unashamedly at the hardcore fanbase and record collecting DJs.