Vanishing Point
Following the Rolling Stones-meets-Black Crowes monstrosityGive Out But Don't Give Upthree years ago, Glasgow's Bobby Gillespie and pals are back at the cutting edge with a trippy collection that could rightly be tagged analog electronica. TheirTrainspottingsoundtrack contribution (included here) melded bluesy harp with contemporary beats and it sets the tone for 11 tracks that use thick swaths of dub, Superfly funk, cheesy electronics, and ambient dance to redefine what was once quaintly known as "head music." Loaded with samples from the cult flickVanishing Point, the killer "Kowalski" is perhaps the best among a batch of highlights ("Burning Wheel," "Stuka"). All that's missing is a freeform FM station or two to turn it into a classic.--Jeff Bateman