Umwelt knows his craft. From no-nonsense acid-drenched electro assaults to more thought-provoking works, the Frenchman can shred speakers as well as soothe souls. The two sides of the New Flesh boss' sound combine as he returns to Shipwrec with the five tracks of Collapsar. In the epic Galactic Empire, beats are lashed with punishing acid rinses as a bold cinematic backdrop takes form. Collapsar maintains the grandeur, broad expansive chords stretching above a plain of tight percussion. A frigid stuttering synthline introduces Reflectivity, a line that breaks into a horizon-searching melody punctuated by crisp rhythms and arcing keys. The immersive quality of Umwelt comes to the fore in the sweeping soundtrack of Redemption Ark. That calm is cracked wide open with the frenetic finale; Day Zero incises from the outset, drums cutting into bulwark of bass before a barrage of keys attack.[info sheet from distr.]