A silver star for
Goldfrapp

Goldfrapp, We are Glitter (Mute)

Another remix collection? What a novel idea. Here's another one: Why not just stick a $20 bill in an envelope and mail it to the record label? That way at least we can save the shelf or memory space we'd be giving up to hear perfectly good songs unnecessarily elongated by a bunch of DJs who should know better.

But wait: Sarcasm aside, We are Glitter--which features 10 alternate versions of cuts from Goldfrapp's sublime album Supernature (plus a bonus remix of "Strict Machine")--mostly steers clear of club cliches like "here comes the drugs rush" drum fills and "atmospheric" vocals-and-orchestra breakdowns. It also helps that the tracks of We Are Glitter were remixed by some of the most rad musicians out there.

There are occasional by-the-numbers misfires, but most of these interpretations are surprisingly original while retaining Alison Goldfrapp's savvy sex-kitten vocals. Several songs jettison any pretense of dance music: Icelandic indie band Mu;m recast "You Never Know" as some sort of lullaby for the mole people, littered with melodic toots and subterranean squiggles, while the Flaming Lips turn "Satin Chic" into a sleek, soft-core psychedelic tune straight out of Barbarella.

The producers who do aim for the dance floor do so with a knowing wink. Ewan Pearson gives a nod to the '80s jam "White Horse" by Laid Back in his take on "Ride a White Horse"; T. Raumschmiere strips away the glam-rock side of "Lovely 2 C U" to give it a dirty techno punch-up; and DFA stretch "Slide In" into 12-plus minutes of shoulder-shrugging disco postpunk. We Are Glitter isn't 100% flawless, but the gems far outshine the duds.