25 YEARS MINIMUM R&B

3.5 stars. The first album I heard from Simon Steensland was "Fat Again" and I instantly became a fan. I picked up the earlier "Led Circus" right away, and then "A Farewell To Brains" when it was released much later. Those three albums were my top three from him until he and JG Thirlwell released "Oscillospira", which is my favourite now. Simon has an incredible sense of humour despite playing a lot of dark music. Expect to hear flavours of UNIVERS ZERO, ART ZOYD, PRESENT, and Zeuhl in general when you listen to a Steensland record.

To celebrate his 25 years in the music business he released this double disc with around 2 1/2 hours of music on it. Go big or go home. On the first disc Simon picks some of his favourite tracks from his first five studio albums. Interesting that I only have "Led Circus" from that list. Interesting because the second disc consists of previously unreleased material making almost all of the music here new to me.

I have to say the three songs on disc one from that 2002 album "The Phantom Of The Theatre" are a tough go with those female vocals. Also the two tracks that follow the opener, one each from his first two albums disappoint. Now "Psyclone" from "Led Circus" which is the opener, just kills. Harmonium and dark growly sounds bringing UZ and AZ to mind. There's a zeuhl vibe later on. "Zombies And Windmills" is another one worth mentioning from his second album. Tracks 7 to 9 are very good as well.

It's that second disc that brings this down for me. And often that's the case with previously unreleased tracks. A couple of live ones here too. In fact "Parade" from "Led Circus" is the only track duplicated but it's a live version on disc two. The 15 minute closer on disc two called "Orkestern" is the highlight though. I really feel this recording is for fanboys. It was cool to hear songs from those four early albums I don't own, but I still feel this is a hit and miss release.