Jamie Lidell

After a song becomes familiar, there's always a risk its remix will sound unnatural or forced, maybe even a little irritating, to the devout follower's ear. There's also a risk that, after an album blows up, the obligatory remix/alternate version EP will be filled with such remixes. For the most part, the 10 alternate versions on Jamie Lidell's Multiply Additions, the companion EP to the British singer's acclaimed Multiply LP, retain the best elements of his original songs, even while spinning off into completely different directions. The result is in line with the versatility and unpredictability that made Multiply such an interesting listen in the first place. Lidell's sonic universe is one where a typically slapstick contribution from Matthew Herbert - a "hoedown bump instrumental" - can sound perfectly at home next to Mara Carlyle's jazzy ukulele cover of "Game Of Fools." Often the best element on any track is Lidell's sophisticated and mature vocals. His breathy croon is comfortably apace in the hard disco synth number "When I Come Back Around (Freeform Reform)," yet equally suited to more subtle accompaniment, such as Gonzales' bouncy piano solo on "Multiply (In A Minor Key)."