Rewind!

As you might expect, this collection of "new cover versions, remixes, and re-edits of original old-school classics, famous songs, and underground rare groove gems" is something of a mixed bag. The grooves are mostly jazzy and relaxed, as is Ubiquity's wont, but there are exceptions: Jack Costanzo's refreshingly frenetic Latin jazz take on "Quimbara" is one example, and Costanzo's house mix of "Calypso Blues" is another. There's also a very interesting interpretation of "Sunshine of Your Love," though don't be fooled -- Rockers Hi Fi met someone to make this recording, but it wasn't the Ella Fitzgerald you're thinking of. Of the more relaxed and jazzy fare, Gotan Project's remix of an old Chet Baker rendition of "'Round Midnight" is exceptionally nice, while the Better Daze version of "Golden Brown" is as overlong and tedious in this mix as it has been in just about every other example on record. Perhaps the most interesting track is dancehall reggae legend Shinehead's take on the Michael Jackson chestnut "Billy Jean": the groove is aggressively minimalist, and Shinehead's singing voice eerily similar to that of Terence Trent D'Arby. Weird, and not as fun as it should be. Overall, though, Rewind! offers a pleasing variety of moods and tunes, and is well worth picking up.