A compilation of early singles and previously unreleased tracks, Queries is a good way to get the measure of Lithops, the solo project of Jan St. Werner of Mouse On Mars. This material was recorded across the second half of the nineties, and it certainly sits neatly alongside other low-key electronica productions of that era. What’s particularly invigorating about Werner’s music of these times, though, is the way it develops its own lexicon, peeling away some of the more pop, techno, and glitch layers of Mouse On Mars. With Lithops, Werner nudges and prods a small collection of sounds into various configurations, giving them the time to find their own voice, such as on the understated bliss of “Filterabend” or “Kahn”. When melodies appear, they’re simple and affecting – the starlit “Swingern In Flingern” is a great example of Werner’s way with tunes.

– Jon Dale