Only a handful of the tracks actually succeed in conveying the styles of the contributing parties and remain entertaining. "A Question of Blood" sounds like classic Carpenter and you can spot the aural DNA of Vince Clarke all over "Automatic". "Zero Gravity" is exactly what you would expect of a Jarre / Tangerine Dream collaboration and "Stardust" with Armin van Buuren is an undoubted success. For me the standout track has to be "If...!" with Little Boots; a truly sublime slice of pop electronica.
Less successful tracks are those recorded with people whose links with electronic music are more tenuous (or dare I even say none existent). "Train and the River", a collaboration with the pianist Lang Lang is dull beyond belief. I can't even begin to describe how bad Pete Townshend's vocals are on the track "Travelator Part 2". Everything else on the album is just middling.
Electronica is being released in a variety of formats. I opted for the "Fan Box" which is effectively a box with the CD/Vinyl and some MP3 codes. The Limited edition £180 (total price £215 by the time part 2 is released next year) deluxe box set is limited to 1000 signed copies and has still not sold out - an indication that even die hard Jarre fans don't think that Electronica has quite hit the mark.
