Peter Thomas Sound-Orchester (Neo Astronautic Sound): Warp Back To Earth 66/99

As evidenced by the constant stream of esoteric reissues cluttering record-store shelves, the '60s may have been a more vibrant time of creativity than previously documented. From obscure proto-electronica to wacky exotica, it seems there's no dearth of cultural detritus left to dig up. Leave it to Pulp, then, to remind people of German composer Peter Thomas. Thomas' compositions are on par with those of several great soundtrack composers; he's not unlike a more Teutonic Esquivel. At 73, Thomas has been rediscovered by a new generation of hipsters, including Jarvis Cocker and crew, who sampled Thomas' "Bolero On The Moon Rocks" on the title track of their most recent album, This Is Hardcore. The new double-disc collection Warp Back To Earth takes the adulation to a new level. The first CD features cool interpretations of Thomas' work by the likes of Stereolab, Saint Etienne, John McEntire, The High Llamas, Stock, Hausen & Walkman, Momus, and Coldcut. Like Pulp, these groups build songs out of Thomas snippets rather than just assembling more rote remixes. It's nice to hear these foreign elements blended with the trademark sounds of a group like Stereolab, whose "Blaue Milch" is one highlight. The second disc is like a secret decoder ring, including several of the short tracks subsequently integrated into the tribute songs. It's fascinating not only to discover what fragments were used by which act, but also to hear Thomas' bizarre music on its own. Truly a weirdo ahead of his time, now may be Thomas' moment in the sun, or at least on the moon. (www.forcedexposure.com)