Haphazard

Rogue Audio is the solo pseudonym of Cass, better known to house music fans as half of the Deadlock team (not to be confused with the German death metal outfit of the same name). As Rogue Audio, he creates music of a very different flavor. Haphazard, despite its title, is actually a collection of carefully thought-out electronic pop, all of which is pleasant and some of which is excellent. On the less compelling end of the spectrum is the album's opener, "Time Spent Dreaming Is Never Wasted," which starts out as essentially nothing and lulls you into a false sense of gentle ennui before suddenly startling you with the realization that it has turned into something. "Future Sound of Pornography," too, is more cute than compelling. But "Warrior" is a rocking (if rather foul-mouthed) piece of ragamuffin hip-hop, and "Some One" incorporates a hilarious beatbox arrangement of Herbie Hancock's "Rockit." The album's most surprising entry is a straight-faced cover of the Phil Collins hit "Take Me Home" — a song that isn't quite as fun as it should be, mainly because if it's going to be sung this straight it really ought to have a drum sound that doesn't distract you with its wimpiness. Overall, though, this is a very fun excursion from an artist who usually travels in very different company.