It doesn't seem like that long since I was reviewing Headman's Turning EP and noting that the Chicken Lips mix of 'It Rough' reserves a special place in my heart. It is therefore a pleasant surprise to now be faced with a brand new re-release of the track.

That Chicken Lips mix takes the lead, to the extent that the original mix doesn't even get a look in. It's as fresh and spartan as ever, a raw slab of bass and percussion, and whilst it felt incredibly of its time when released it feels remarkably current now, almost ten years on. It's the interplay of hard 808s and treble-heavy drum rolls that mean this track has lasted so well.

Two new versions from Headman then feature, the '2012 version' and the '2012 reprise'. Both of these use the same post-punk sound as a jumping off point but the inspirational reference points feel a little more rounded. There are more obvious no-wave tones here, along with a cosmic edge brought through in the heavy use of spectral analogue synths. The reprise comes from a similar place but with a cunning Moog bass line and some heavier drums. Whilst none of the additional mixes here feel as vital as that Chicken Lips one these updates feel like they really sum up a lot of what has happened musically since the original release.

The first new guest mix comes from Scott Fraser, who gives the track an acid overhaul to make it into a building peak-time electro workout. Finally Remain's mix is more analogue sounding, a soup of robotic machinery and sharp drum beats. Overall it's a smart package that revisits a track thoroughly deserving of it.

It Rough 2012 is out now on 12" through Relish with the digital release following on 18 January. Available to pre-order on MP3 from Amazon.co.uk [affiliate link].

It seems like some time since we last heard from Robi Insinna. Better known as Headman he has had a number of well regarded singles and remixes over the years. Whilst his last album, the Dieter Meier (of Yello fame) featuring 1923, was only released two years ago it feels like the limelight has shifted off of Headman a little.

And that is a shame because Headman makes just the kind of slightly scratchy post-punk electro that I happily lap up - place him somewhere between the discordant party noise of Soulwax and the punk funk of !!!. 'Turning', featuring long term collaborator Tara on vocals feels like classic eighties experimental electro breeding discontent. Tara's vocals successfully replicate early Human League's clinical approach with a "Head is turning / machine is burning" couplet whilst clattering drums and itchy guitar work attempt to strangle a warm, bouncing melody.

Aside from the original this EP also features three additional versions of 'Turning'. Insinna's own dub reworks things to give it a more stripped back and percussive latter third, out-shining the original in the process. Emperor Machine's mix is even better though, adding some space for a bigger bass line and some disco flourishes that make this into a real dance floor filler. The definitive version of Headman's biggest hit to date, 'It Rough', was Chicken Lip's mechanical, bass heavy synth version and so there is an element of history repeating itself here - Emperor Machine's Andy Meecham being one half of Chicken Lips. Scott Fraser's dub also takes things down a disco route but whilst the wandering bass is reminiscent of Moroder it lacks the impact of Meecham's version.

Also included are two remixes of previous single 'Be Loved'. The first, from Richard Fearless of Death in Vegas, is a typically sprawling acid psychotic meltdown - the aural equivalent of a boy playing in a toy shop. It has moments where the squelching acid work is a joy, albeit a somewhat unfocused one. I haven't heard the original but I'd wager it doesn't sound much like this. Murphy Jax turns it into a warm, laid back house record that unfortunately does nothing whatsoever for me.

Whilst the latter mixes are slightly hit and miss this is an overly generous EP in the first place - buy it for the first half and the exciting acid straight jacket that is Richard Fearless' input.

Turning is released on 11 May on Relish Records, available for pre-order on MP3 from Amazon.co.uk [affiliate link].