The Pastels: Illuminati

Lots of bands make music that's conducive to remixing, though the results often suffer from a frustrating loss of identity. Then there are bands you would never in a million years expect, or want, to hear remixed. With a precious, almost fragile sound that has basically defined "indie" since its genesis in the early '80s, The Pastels would be at the head of that list, assuming you've even heard the group's music. Amazingly, however, the new Pastels remix collection, Illuminati, works wonderfully, building new arrangements around simple, catchy, lighthearted riffs that are repeated for the songs' duration. The album is essentially a remix of 1997's Illumination, with a few forthcoming tracks thrown in for good measure. Some of the material, including the Stereolab remix of "One Wild Moment," bears the imprint of the remixer a bit too strongly, obscuring the inspired source material. But there isn't nearly enough of that sort of thing to truly mar the album, and one of the two My Bloody Valentine tracks that usurp The Pastels' identity ("Magic Nights") is the closest thing to a real MBV track in ages. Thanks to the strength of the originals, each song possesses a golden kernel that cannot be stripped away: Cornelius, who remixes "Windy Hill," choses to emphasize The Pastels' dreamy qualities, resulting in a track evocative of Portishead. Ian Carmichael's mix of "The Viaduct" (one of three on Illuminati), as well as that of "Rough Riders" (one of two) by The Make Up/Mighty Flashlight, add a refreshing, light hip-hop flavor to the originals. With its freshness, variety, and great building blocks, Illuminati ought to provide a model for countless remix projects to come.