Pitch Black's classic Ape to Angel finally gets the UK release it so richly deserves. Out on the resurrected Dubmission label, it is a dub infused mix of beats, bass and breaks, awash with echo and delay.

Originally unleashed in New Zealand in October 2004 by local label, Kog Transmissions, its infectious rhythms weaved their way round the world, delighting lovers of deep luscious dub wherever they went. Picked up by esteemed US label Waveform for release in North America, it eventually found its way into the CD player of the former UK label Dubmission and was deemed so good that they came out of voluntary retirement!

The album is full of Pitch Black's trademark sounds - sinuous bass lines weaving through an overlay of echoing keyboards and electronic beeps and blips - but there's an evident change of direction as well. Their sound has become a little fuller, the bass slightly more driving, and the keyboards almost tending towards a deep house sound on some of the tracks. Stand out tunes are the homage to the home of Viennese institution The Dub Club, Flex; Lost in Translation which samples Latvian satellite transmissions, and the growling Elements Turn, which features Sandy Mill (Chillifunk) on vocals.

It was voted one of the best albums of 2004 by bigchill.net regulars, and is still in the top 20 selling independent releases back home in New Zealand. All in all, a welcome addition to any bass lovers music collection.