An ill-matched collection of one old track, three new ones and five remixes, the haphazard nature of 'Somniloquy' actually reflects Pram's methodology rather well. For nearly a decade, the Birmingham band have been making songs that sound as if they're held together by brown paper and bits of old string.
They're an unavoidably quirky band, Pram. The four untreated tunes here are perfect examples of what they've been doing for years; making music that's never quite as magical as their fans claim, nor as irritating as their detractors argue.
Musical saws vibrate exotically. Confused clarinets and trumpets wander in, add a vague jazz direction, and stumble off. Sampled creaks and ticks sit behind a selection of toy instruments for that essential "lo-fi spy theme" or "haunted nursery" effect. Singer Rosie Cuckson sounds wholesome, if a bit weird too.
As ever, then, Pram come across as a skewed Stereolab, though never as good. A clutch of leftfield remixers - notably Badly Drawn Boy henchman Andy Votel - typically up the spookiness quotient without measurably improving on the originals. Only Warp artists Plone really shine, remodelling 'Bewitched' into a retro-electronica knees-up reminiscent of '70s analogue pioneers Chicory Tip. Charming - after a fashion.
