From The Archives Vol.1 - Future Sound Of London (The)

Advantages: Very entertaining, and superbly engineered
Disadvantages: Some of the electronic effects are a little cheesy

...Vince’s superlative engineering. It is a producer’s disc if ever there was one, and an object lesson in how to create original, high-quality sound recordings. The sound quality is of course up to the usual very high standards of the Studio 2 label, which was once synonymous with easy listening repertoire of the utmost quality, in terms of both music and production. ~ Where Can I Get It? ~ The vinyl album has long been deleted, but the same material is available, along with “Space Experience 2” (an slightly inferior sequel, in my humble opinion) on a recently discontinued compilation CD called “Space Experience Vol. 1 and Vol. 2”. Both of these are still available on eBay from time to time (vinyl album averages £10.00 used, CD compilation around £8.99 new). Both are on the Studio 2 label.... Read review

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Advantages: Transformations from bad songs into good songs!
Disadvantages: All covers, some good, some bad

...For those of you that don't know, The Wildhearts made a fantastic comeback in 2007 with their self-titled album, The Wildhearts, which was probably the best album they have produced in their (approximately) twenty year career. The album had a great fresh new sound and was made up of several classic tracks. They have followed this up with Stop Us If You've Heard This One Before Vol. 1. This indicates that there could be a Vol. 2 in the future! The album is made up of fifteen cover songs from the band's favourite artists and was released on 19th May 2008. While the album contains no original songs by the band themselves, they have taken some pretty bad songs and turned them into rock classics quite impressively. The two tracks that stand out the most for me are the amazing transformation of Warren Zevon's Carmelita, which sounds much... Read review

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Advantages: Great collaboration, rare recordings, rare footage
Disadvantages: Maybe not your thang

...New Cadillac” takes the listener back to a grating 50’s sound that typified the rock aspect of the band’s musical influences. It was that combo of rock and reggae that the Clash did so well that fused many aspects of their song writing. In a London that was home to a large immigrant population, the black influence is present for all to hear in “Rudie Can’t Fail”, “The Guns of Brixton” and “Revolution Rock”. In particular, “The Guns of Brixton” is a testimony to the racial tension between the police and the mainly West Indian community of Brixton with never a hint of racism from the songwriting itself but merely a real life reflection of the social problems of the late 70’s. “…When they kick at your front door, how you gonna come? With your hands on your head or on the trigger of your gun?” “Lost in the Supermarket” takes its inspiration... Read review

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