Festival Of Brass 1992, A - Britannia Building Society Band

Advantages: Great patriotic tracks
Disadvantages: none

.... Track 19: Pomp and Circumstance Ahh, the perfect track to finish on! The most British track (apart from the National Anthem)- it's more commonly known as Land of Hope and Glory. It's played really well in such a way that when the tune is first played, it's done nicely and sensitively, then it gradually builds to a triumphant climax. Not one of the more upbeat tracks, but works perfectly nonetheless. The RRP for the CD is around £7.99 (well it was when it was first released) but you can get it from www.amazon.co.uk for as little as £4, so I think it's a bargain you should definitely treat yourself to. It's a great CD to get if you wish to expand your musical horizons to brass bands. Thanks for reading :o)... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some catchy numbers, Hysni Zela's vocals
Disadvantages: Not all wedding music, not enough Hysni Zela, over-produced

...Browsing the CDs in the 'World Music' section of my local independent music store I came across the intriguing "Albanian Wedding: Brass Explosion" by a band called Fanfara Tirana. So delighted was I with the cover picture of a pompom-ed slipper and the back cover shot of the band in their finery that I bought the CD immediately. Reading the cover notes I discovered that the band is something of a novelty because, while brass instruments are not unknown in traditional Albanian music, there has never been the tradition of brass bands such as this. Although the band members are all serious and (very talented) musicians, they decided to form a brass band as a joke to create a tradition that never existed - brass bands travelling from town to town playing traditional music at weddings which is very common in the other Balkan countries... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Consisently excellent songs, original styles
Disadvantages: A few weak songs

...Greatest Hit’s album; the Singles 1992-2003. But does it match the hype? In a word, yes. The album blends releases from most of the band’s albums, including Tragic Kingdom, Return of Satan, the more recent Rock Steady and their debut No Doubt, but not, oddly, The Beacon Street Collection. Songs: 1. Just a girl 2. Its My Life 3. Hey Baby 4. Bathwater 5. Sunday Morning 6. Hella Good 7. New 8. Underneath it All 9. Excuse Me Mr 10. Running 11. Spiderwebs 12. Simple Kind of Life 13. Don’t Speak 14. Ex-Girlfriend 15. Trapped in a Box Bonus Tracks: 16. Girls Get the Bass in the Back (Hey Baby remix) 17. Underneath it all (Acoustic Live version) The album opens with one of their most famous songs, the punky Just a Girl. The gorgeous repetitive opening riff skits about between Gwen’s mock-angry shouting. The feminist... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful