Mexican electronica artist Fernando Corona has been seen as something of a chameleon throughout his short-but-fruitful career. The Mexican-born, Barcelona-based musician has enjoyed a quiet success since 2002 under his 'Murcof' alias, with each release subtly differing from its predecessor in tone. The underlying current of electro-meets-classical in Murcof's music, however, never strays too far from hearing distance, and Cosmos - his fourth for UK-based indie label Leaf Records - is no different. It's unlikely that Cosmos will change the world or the face of contemporary music, but it might at least make you view it a little differently. Comprising just six elongated tracks of nine, ten and twelve-minute mini-opuses, Murcof's penchant for minimalist, cinematic instrumentation is best heard on opener (and standout) Cuerpo Celeste, an eerily beautiful song that shimmers with desert heat as much as it shivers with arctic sleet. Cielo and Cometa both cadge from Corona's more beat-heavy leanings - the latter reminiscent of an ambient Orbital offering - while closer Oort's orchestral panache uncoils itself via a foggy flute riff. Peculiarly, it's the twin core of tracks Cosmos I and II that are the least interesting on this album; though abundant with intensity, they lack the strange magnetism that's dashed liberally elsewhere throughout the album. Still, though, it makes scant difference to what is an eerily dazzling album. Switch the lights off, stick the headphones on, and experience what it's like to stargaze through your ears.

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