Despite being a collection of Russian-made electronic music, Music of Deneb.2099 sounds distinctly British, primarily due to the massive debt these sixteen artists owe to Richard James (Aphex Twin). As one of the genre's most recognizable names, James makes all too easy a reference point for listeners unfamiliar with quirky bedroom electronica, but in this case there's no denying the resemblance. Consider Clapan's "My Laptop and His Dream", which clearly apes James's tendency to combine off-kilter rhythmic patterns with fey high-end. On "Tond3", Fizzarum's use of static clicks mimics James's penchant for working atonal sound sources in such a way that they begin to provide an actual melody.

On the bright side, this gang of Russians does Aphex Twin better than James himself has done in several years. Their compositions have all the glitchy charm that made James's many musical incarnations so endearing, and because the various musicians borrow from different aspects of his repertoire, the compilation avoids the sort of overwhelming creative tunnel-vision that made Drukqs a bit of a slog. The shared inspiration enhances the album's success, making for an unusually cohesive compilation. Music of Deneb.2099 sounds more Cornwall than Kremlin, but you'll be too busy enjoying it to care where it came from.