With last year's 'Hart Of The Wud', Londoner Christopher Haworth delivered one of the most colourful and varied electronica albums of the year. In fact the term electronica barely does its justice as folk, techno and tribal rhythms were all covered. 'Mockery' picks up from that record and is - if anything - even more ambitious; tackling more styles than before and even creating a concept album of sorts as the music is inspired by Russell Hoban's 'Riddley Walker'; a story which gave rise to the character Littl Shyning Man, which of course is the chosen moniker for Haworth.

Vocal harmonies, those trusted folk melodies, some squiggly electronica and string effects all appear on the extraordinarily diverse second track 'Song Of Blak Deth'. Thereafter things get really dark and mysterious as the album reverts to minimalist, ambient textures; particularly compelling on the haunting guitar soundscapes used for 'Blood Lantern'. Unfortunately, the quiet, downbeat nature of the middle part of the record means the early momentum is lost and the excitement is only picked up again near the end for 'Elephant Graveyard' (thanks to the South American rhythms and steel guitar) and the pretty electronica for finale 'Man What Grew Up From Acorn'. It's still a brave and diverting record though and further proof that Haworth is just as inventive and gifted as the rather more renowned Four Tet or Mice Parade.