Until Summer Comes Around

John Sherwood who is responsible for the Awakenings series of concerts in Leeds has put together another compilation for us (the first being 'Awakenings 2005') featuring both known and lesser known acts. Much of the music is exclusive to this set. The opener 'Maametalli' by Chaos Research certainly covers a lot of ground. Peaceful shimmering tones develop an oriental / classical feel then we move on to a melodic sequencer line. Overall the track is gently rhythmic with many a twist and turn. Modulator ESP donate 'Gynomatik', a slowly bubbling sequencer based number mixed with metallic tones. The first of the bigger names, Skin Mechanix, are represented by a live version of 'Dimension Jump'. The sequences and Arcish rhythm burst into life along with a bass beat. As with the studio version the foot is full down on the accelerator and its impossible to keep the body still but the live setting gives it more of a fun feel. The leads, if anything, have greater bite here than on the original.

Brahms’s Missa canonica is something of a rarity: composed around 1856, the work lay unperformed until 1983 despite being regarded highly enough by its composer for him to have re-used some of its material in the popular motet Warum ist das Licht gegeben?. The absence of both Gloria and Credo settings (these texts being too long to be easily suited to the form of a canon) probably explains the neglect, yet the four movements of this work show all the hallmarks of Brahms’s compositional mastery and deft handling of choral effect that are well known from his many motets, six of which, including the sublime Op 30 Geistliches Lied, are also recorded here.

A limited-edition, 6-CD box set of 90 tracks including 78 previously unreleased in the US and 48 previously unreleased anywhere. All tracks are studio (not live) recordings and include all studio B sides, the full Peace album (aka the "Manor Sessions"), complete radio sessions, 12" mixes, alternate versions and out-takes, unreleased masters and work-in-progress demos. The box also includes an 80-page booklet. Some copies include a bonus 7th CD of additonal mixes and extended versions released on the original singles.

The series was revived as "AM Gold" in 1995, with a different cover design (early volumes had an artist's drawing of a pocket transistor radio, with later volumes bearing a "gold record" with the year or era spotlighted emblazoned over the top). The first 20 volumes were re-titled issues of volumes from the former "Super Hits" series with identical track lineups, while new volumes covering the mid- and late-1970s (including individual volumes for each of the years 1974-1979) were included.

The series was revived as "AM Gold" in 1995, with a different cover design (early volumes had an artist's drawing of a pocket transistor radio, with later volumes bearing a "gold record" with the year or era spotlighted emblazoned over the top). The first 20 volumes were re-titled issues of volumes from the former "Super Hits" series with identical track lineups, while new volumes covering the mid- and late-1970s (including individual volumes for each of the years 1974-1979) were included.