Mother Tears

Only compilation for the British synth pop act, digitally remastered 32-bit. The bonus third disc features 7 tracks 'Change' (extended version), 'Pale Shelter' (long version), 'The Way You Are' (extended), 'Mother's Talk' (US remix), 'Shout' (US remix), 'Calling Out' & 'Soul Board'. Digipak. Mercury Records. 37 tracks in all. 2003.

An ancient urn is found in a cemetery outside Rome. Once opened, it triggers a series of violent incidents: robberies, rapes and murders increase dramatically, while several mysterious, evil-looking young women coming from all over the world are gathering in the city. All these events are caused by the return of Mater Lacrimarum, the last of three powerful witches who have been spreading terror and death for centuries. Alone against an army of psychos and demons, Sarah Mandy, an art student who seems to have supernatural abilities of her own, is the only person left to prevent the Mother of Tears from destroying Rome.

The Iranian conductor and composer Alexander Rahbari grew up with and trained in traditional Persian music with its most influential maestros. His eight symphonic poems, My Mother Persia, of which this is Volume 1 of 2, are full of melodies, rhythms and improvisations in these traditional styles, brought to life with the colours of modern orchestration. The first of these is an emotional violin concerto in which the soloist plays the role of the Nohe Khan, usually a tenor who sings in traditional Persian style at various religious ceremonies. Mother’s Tears refers to a gathering of orphans and to Rahbari’s own experiences of tragedy, contrasting with a subtext of mischief in Children’s Prayer.