ASIDES BESIDES

What a peculiar compilation. Safe to say that it's for fans/collectors. But if you already have their studio albums, how much value do you really give to all those 12" mixes and extended versions of their hits? As a single disc concentrating on B-side tracks it would make more sense as a collector's thing. Anyway, though it was many years ago, I remember being happily surprised by some tracks, such as the piano version of 'Call in the Night Boy', which originally was something like a filler on the plastic-sounding It's My Life album and is here very elegant art-pop in the style of David Sylvian, and 'For What It's Worth' which comes from the time of the deeply arty Spirit of Eden. But to revisit their early New Wave days was less lovely, and I have never thought that extended versions make much sense. Best left ignored! Try their albums from Colour Of Spring onwards if you are looking for some well-done and unique art-pop (I don't know if that is an accurate term but I like to use it).