The Virgin Years 1977-1983 is the follow-up to last year's The Virgin Years 1974-1978 (see review) by Tangerine Dream (TD). The latter album was a 3CD-box set comprising the five remastered albums TD recorded for Virgin Records between 1974 and 1978: Phaedra (1974), Rubycon (1975), Ricochet (1975), Stratosfear (1976) and Cyclone (1978) plus a selection of rare single releases, 7-inch edits as well as two rarely heard radio adverts. However, it didn't contain Encore, originally released in 1977. The follow-up to this previous release contains seven albums plus two singles all packed on a 5CD-album set.
Shortly after being formed by Joseph Hill Kenneth Paley and Albert Walker in the mid-seventies, Culture joined the roster of Kingston-based producer, Joe Gibbs for whom they recorded a stream of Roots classics, including the 1977 breakthrough hit, 'Two Sevens Clash'. The following year, the group signed with Sonia Pottinger, who between 1978 and 1979 provided Richard Branson's recently launched Virgin Front Line imprint with four of sublime long players: 'Harder Than The Rest', 'Cumbolo', 'International Herb' and 'Black Rose'. Widely acclaimed upon their release, the first three of these albums soon became regarded as Roots classics. Now, after over 35 years, this long-lost masterpiece finally sees its long-overdue release on this essential 2CD collection, which also features the legendary trio's three other Front Line LPs, so highlighting Culture's complete recorded works for Virgin's esteemed label.
Phil Manzanera had no problem filling his mid-'70s downtime away from Roxy Music. His guitar graced some 20 albums, like John Cale's Fear, Eno's Here Come the Warm Jets, and Nico's The End. This outing from his all-star side group is slicker than his 1976 live debut album, but no less worthwhile; some 16 musicians are credited. The sound is sleek and sophisticated; even lyrics aren't exempt from creative twists, as shown on "Listen Now"'s glistening jazz-pop – which cleverly juxtaposes its title against a bouncy "now, now, listen" chorus.
DAVID SYLVIAN Weatherbox (Rare 1989 UK deluxe 5-CD box set spanning David's career and his many collaborations. Includes the releases: Brilliant Trees, Alchemy, Gone To Earth, Gone To Earth - Instrumental [Exclusive to this box set] and Secrets Of The Beehive. Also includes a 60 page booklet which documents each release and all the musicians involved plus fold-out poster. The artwork and design is by Russell Mills and Dave Coppenhall with sliding lid on the top of the box. The accompanyment by the likes of Bill Nelson, Sakamoto, Jansen/Barbierri/Karn, Russell Mills, Robert Fripp, Michael Brooks et al bears testimony to just how many TALENTED ARTISTS are influenced and eager to work w/ Mr. Sylvian.
Recording Date 1973 - 1992. This box set is a deluxe masterpiece in its creation. It starts off as a box that has a box within it that slides out the open side and inside the middle box there are the 3 cds and a booklet. The discs are a complete overview of Brian Enos' vocal music. The first disc contains the first 2 solo albums he made. It is refreshing to have them both together vurtually untouched(i say vurtually because I dont even know what they omitted to fit them on together). The second disc contains the bulk of Another Green World and Before and After Science. Both Classics in my book. The last disc is the treasure for most people probably have the first 4 albums. The first discs only throw hints of having rare tracks with only a couple per cd. The 3rd disc which has not only Enos projects for outside artists represented but it also contains the unfinshed album of pop songs called My Squelchy Life. As far as i can tell he hasnt made anything like those early vocal albums since he worked on this album back in 91. Consequently the disc is very valuable and with the deluxe packaging of the box it makes a terrific box set.