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SECRET LOVE IV: ONE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHER is yet another compilation from the eclectic Sonar Kollectiv…uh, collective, the Berlin-based dance imprint that doesn’t behave like one. SECRET LOVE IV, like everything that comes from Sonar Kollectiv, is full of surprises, always to varying degrees interesting.

This collection works a lot better on a track-by-track basis than as something you’re going to play on a motor trip. You could maybe fold laundry to it, and that’s not a put down; if you’re a fan of Everything But The Girl or Massive Attack’s quieter moments, this one is for you. This is particularly true of “Atlantic” by Roebeck, which almost sounds like it’s built around a Massive Attack beat. Midlake’s “Roscoe (Beyond The Wizard‘s Sleeve Mix”) is cool for unexpected reasons, with Journey’s “Who’s Crying Now” riff running through it, with some sonic sound effects tossed in here and there to keep the listener paying attention. Other surprises include an Andrew Bird track, “Imitosis,” and --- wonder of wonders --- “The Loved” by Paul Weller. “Africa Displaced” by A Race Of Angels almost --- almost sounds like Seal, unplugged. There are other tracks worthy of notice, however. Clara Hill could be mistaken for Sade on spots on “About You,” lushly produced and all. This is music for the most part devoted to soothing the brow as opposed to racing the pulse. Even “Riot” by Choir of Young Believers, with its occasional bombastic percussion, is for the most part sedate. There’s even “Wayfaring Stranger,” a traditional folk song given an a capella electronica treatment by Jamie Woon. A pair of tracks near the end of SECRET LOVE IV, however, deviate a bit from the template. “Little Steps by Nostalgia 77 is a cocktail lounge jazz-tinged number, and “Wide” by Kala Brese is a guitar and percussion driven track that moves a bit. For the most part, however, you won’t mistake anything on SECRET LOVE IV for anything off of the Danger Mouse catalogue.

While SECRET LOVE IV is not my favorite release off of Sonar Kollectiv, that state of affairs is more to my own taste than any deficiency of quality of (most of) the tracks on this collection. Those who prefer their music sedate without selling out will enjoy this nicely compiled collection as much for the surprises therein as the overall mood it creates.