Mark Ronson, Version

This album is a great buy, I really recommend it to anyone wanting to sample some of Ronson's talent.

Given the number of big names who lined up to record with him for this album, Mark Ronson must be pretty well-known within the music industry. I'm afraid to say I hadn't heard of him until the release of Version, and hadn't considered buying the album until it received a strong plug on national radio. I based my judgement on only 2 tracks but this turned out to be a great decision, as the whole album makes enjoyable and upbeat listening from start to finish.

I still haven't fully worked out what part Ronson plays in the music but a flick through the track information seems to indicate he is a record producer/DJ with added guitar, drum and percussion skills. His greatest skill, however, seems to be an ability to assemble a team of superb musicians, supplemented of course by the big name vocalists. You may guess from the last comment that my interest in the music refers mainly to the instrumental interpretation of modern pop or R&B tracks. The funk/jazz twist to these well-known tunes is a refreshing approach to breathe new life into them without resorting to getting the latest identi-kit girl band to sing the track almost identically to the original. Certain tracks from Version have also made it into the mainstream, successfully offering jazz beats and melodies to the iPod masses.

The first few seconds of the album immediately draw you in and establish the tone. A drum intro leads into a steady upbeat rhythm, followed by the introduction of a baritone sax to provide the baseline. The ensemble builds until you suddenly realise they're playing God Put a Smile Upon Your Face by Coldplay. The use of the tune is subtle but strikingly different to the original. The entire track is instrumental, highlighting for me that the focus of the album is on the musicians rather than the vocalists.

Without pause for breath, we are led straight into Oh My God featuring Lily Allen. For me, this is the best track she's produced. The track is a laid-back contrast to The Kaiser Chief's original. Allen's soft voice is well-suited, but the band steals the show. Stop Me follows, which is the most mainstream of the tracks, and not my favourite, but still in keeping with the general theme.

There then follows a brilliantly funky version of Britney Spear's Toxic, in which the band expertly plays around with the rhythms, almost disguising the original. Amy Winehouse features in a rendition of the Zutons' Valerie, her voice perfectly suited to the task. Track six is probably my least favourite, although my enjoyment of it depends on my mood, I can take it or leave it.

After the first of three instrumental interludes we move on to Pretty Green, featuring Santo Gold. This song should be really irritating (it puts me in mind of Hey Mickey) but is actually very catchy. The next track is Just, featuring Phantom Planet. This track features some very smooth jazz rhythms and vocals. Around this point in a lot of albums, the energy and originality start to fade, but Version never does this, wrapping things up with tracks in a range of styles, notably a cover of the Charlatans' The Only One I Know, sung by Robbie Williams, and an upbeat contribution from Kasabian, which is bolstered by some funky jazz moments.

The music found on Version may not appeal to all tastes, but those who understand music will appreciate the talent that has gone into making this album.