One of Ministry Of Sound’s more ‘credible’ compilations returns, following the success of the debut. Possibly inspired by an influx of new covers – some of which have been getting heavy radio play, primarily Florence and the Machine’s cover of You Got the Love – and the growing popularity the triple j segment Like a Version, which has become a breeding ground for live acoustic covers.

While the covers are mostly pop songs, they are not restricted to any genre, with some soft rock and indie anthems. However, the best thing about this comp is that it allows you to love songs you otherwise would not, or would at least not admit to (as a case in point, Beyonce, Rihanna and Britney Spears are all covered).

Uncovered Vol. 2 features of swag of genuinely good artists that the dance scene normally ignores. These include the likes of Aussie artists Sarah Blasko, Lisa Mitchell, Gabriella Cilmi and Ben Lee. It is surprising to see such a strong Aussie representation on a Ministry release, and it does the collection justice. However, there are still enough crossover acts like The XX, Friendly Fires and Bertie Blackman to make this legitimately diverse.

Standout tracks include The XX’s slowburn cover of Womack & Womack’s classic Teardrops. It is both eerie and great to hear an instantly recognisable voice singing familiar, yet foreign, lyrics. For the first few seconds, you struggle, realising that this is not the original artist singing. However, this adds a certain charm to an old favourite. The Big Pink’s rendition of Beyonce’s Sweet Dreams does this track massive justice, and I dare say Bertie Blackman’s cover of the Phil Collins staple In The Air Tonight could easily be a classic in its own right.

This compilation is full of surprises and is well worth of a couple of re-listens. While standouts will vary largely from person to person, this will depend on what resonates with each of the original tracks, some of which may not have been heard in years. Uncovered Vol. 2 is a welcome alternative to The Chillout Sessions. Definitely well worth checking out.

Uncovered: A Cool Collection Of Covers Volume 2 is out now on Ministry Of Sound.