Intergalatic dub revamp is far from flogging a dead monkey.

I know what you're thinking. Not another album from the Gorillaz franchise. We've had the G Sides and now we've got the dub remix album. But hold your horses. Laika Come Home is more or less an entirely new work, taking the Gorillaz album as its inspiration.

So who are the Space Monkeyz? "The official version or the truth?" asks Darren, main Monkey and Gorillaz DJ. Officially, they're the second-generation mutated offspring of monkeys sent into space during the Cold War, searching for their spiritual leader Laika, the first dog in space. "The truth is that we're just three blokes," he admits. Three blokes who've played with George Clinton, Jamiroquai and Horace Andy.

Laika Come Home stems from Darren's B-side dub version of Gorillaz single Tomorrow Comes Today. Albarn was so taken with it that he suggested Darren remix the whole album. He enlisted the help of drummer and lifelong friend Richie and got started. Then came Gavin. "I was brought in as a kind of melodic consultant," says the one-time Jamiroquai session guitarist. Coming from a traditional rock background he was initially apprehensive about dub, but "it was too good an opportunity to miss".

Apes, the Gorillaz and Monkeys from space...

Calling in favours from acquaintances, including Terry Hall and rapper U-Brown, they re-recorded the album using Damon's vocals as a starting point. Despite being given the original album, neither Richie nor Gavin had listened to it. "I deliberately tried not to," says Richie. Gavin adds, "I was working on a track with Richie and he said, 'How does the original go?' I said, 'I've absolutely no idea!'" No wonder the end result is a long way from the original.

So was Laika Come Home an attempt by EMI to bleed dry the market potential of Gorillaz? "Damon was the only person really behind it. The record company were blissfully unaware," remarks Richie. 'I think they were very surprised when they heard the final product." The marketing machine duly swung into action and Jamie Hewlett, artist and co-creator of Gorillaz created a look for the Space Monkeyz.

Jamie Hewlett's interglactic chimp artwork.

Then a single was mentioned. Richie: "We wanted to write a B-side because this is all Damon's material." So what does it sound like? "It's twisted hip-hop. I mean it's odd. There's a bit in the middle that's like film music, there's a Chinese rap and an American rap. It's got a robotic voice and other bits and pieces." Blimey.

So what's next? "We'd like to do our own album," suggests Darren. The others agree. "I'd like to do something more mature off the back of this project, rather than a stab at the pop charts," says Richie. "We've been there and done that."

And what are their hopes for Laika Come Home? "I'm hoping a lot of people who bought Gorillaz might just buy this and discover a whole new genre," Richie asserts passionately. "I fell in love with this music at the age of 14 and I'm still in love with it. That's why I do it. It's a great opportunity to reach a wider audience."

Whether you like Gorillaz or not, Laika Come Home is worth a look. MW 04 July 02

Laika Come Home, released 01 July 02 on Parlophone.