It’s not often we receive what could be interpreted as new-age music, however, Kitaro is certainly an artist that falls into that category. Born in Japan, Kitaro produced a couple of prog-rock albums in the early seventies, until he met legendary Tangerine Dream member Klaus Schulze, who introduced him to the electronic side of sound synthesis.

Since then, Kitaro has been producing more contemporary music, and Reinterpritations is a 12-track compilation expanding on his work. These reinsterpretations are not remixes as such, more like individual reinterpretations of what the artists thought lay behind Kitaro’s visions, which, corny as it sounds, are very much based on the 'evolution of the human spirit'. Of course it all sounds very new age and outdated, but Reinterpretations is a lot more progressive than you might imagine. Remixes arrive by relative unknowns such as AudioMoe, Turbotito, Inside The Sun, Peas, Timmy The Terror, Appogee Occidental and Stephen Hauptfeue, who all provide contemporary electronic music with quite a unique flavour, as ancient sounds merge with futuristic beats and sampling. Unknowns they might be, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the music on offer.

Some of these mixes are unexpectedly satisfying - such as the opening Crystal Tears by AudioMoe. Comparisons to Enigma-based music is likely, but the use of pan flutes set to an addictively melodic backing, then combined with dubby bass and strings, makes for a soothing listening experience that belies it’s standing. Meanwhile, Turbotito follows with an inimitable slice of reggae/sampletronica, as if Bob Marley had been given his first lesson on Pro Tools. Peas' Sitara IV has a more sinister belly, with haunting ethnic backing vocals reptitively crowing over gated synths and a simple hip-hop beat. My favourite track however is Appogee’s Kuu – which has a beautifully ambient feel; brilliantly combining oriental ethnicity with strings and contemporary, electronica-based glitchy beats. It’s a shame it only lasts 2:46, you will want to play this again and again.

In truth, it would be fair to say that many of the remixes on Reinterpretations flirt between modern electronica and standard world music, but perhaps that’s what gives it an edge. However, this also makes it hard to recommend to specific sectors of the music community. Those more interested in Delerium, Enigma, or other modern ethereal artists, might find this falls short, although much of it will attract them. For the more serious world music enthusiast, Reinterpretations might come across as a little too cutting edge. It really is a curious blend, but overall I think this album has a lot going for it. You could do worse than take the gamble.