The first long player released by Black Box Recorder was released in 1998 but failed to gain much recognition at the time due to lack of success in the singles chart so its re-release seems timely. Oddly, the sound is sparser still and, when the tracks in question are underpinned by a strong hook or sinister shimmer as on 'England Made Me' itself, the effect is genuinely chilling. Nixey comes across as a remarkably aloof English ice maiden complemented by the minimal, slow-paced musical backing. 'Child Psychology' could be a teenage angst anthem as its ghostly narrative throws up such winning lines as "I stopped talking when I was six years old. I didn't want anything more to do with the outside world." and "Life is unfair. Kill yourself or get over it". Despite all this the most memorable moment on 'England Made Me' is an absolutely inspired trip-hop reworking of one-hit wonders Althea and Donna's 'Up Town Top Ranking' which goes a long way to prove the theory that you should only cover songs that weren't much cop in the first place.