MASTER SERIES

"Masters series" is yet another in the endless supply of BJH compilations. As ever, it is either a Harvest years OR a post Harvest years collection, tracks from these two distinct periods never appearing together on the same album. This collection falls into the latter category, and is of some interest since it includes a few remixes, rare tracks, and alternate versions. That said, the various annotations to the tracks such as "Single version" and "Full length new version" appear to be little more than a marketing ploy, the tracks sounding little different to their predecessors.

There are a few of BJH's better tracks here such as the anthemic "Hymn" and the moving "Berlin", both more soft rock than prog as such. Many of the tracks though did not stand out particularly on their original albums, and tend to drag this compilation down too.

There's not really anything here to make this album essential, but BJH completionists (if there is such a thing!), will want it for the "rarities" it contains. (The band picture on the sleeve is a recent one which excludes Woolly Woolsenholme, which says something of the attention to detail here).