Stark Raving Mad
When the producers of the filmStark Raving Madsought a progressive dance DJ to inject some momentum into the plot, their natural first choice was John Digweed. Yet this marks the first time the esteemed DJ has done a proper soundtrack, which seems especially odd given how intertwined dance music and film have become in recent years. Working closely with his Bedrock partner Nick Muir, Digweed uses the opportunity to compose a few brilliant new tracks ("Beautiful Strange," first and foremost) and puts together a solid mix featuring Moonface, Evolution, and other worthy artists. Though it never sounds like a film score (the occasional sampled piece of dialogue aside), the record does feel somewhat incomplete without the film. But while Digweed’s relatively controlled vibe keeps this 2-disc set distinct from his usual thump-filled work, tracks like Voyager’s "Time Travel" definitely move, and Digweed’s always-excellent ear makes for an interesting listen. –-Matthew Cooke