HEROES NEVER DIE -THE ANTHOLOGY

Review Nº 888

When two friends started their first steps in music with the sole ambition of playing songs of their favourite band, Pink Floyd, couldn't imagine they would become as one of the leaders of the revival movement of the prog rock of the 70's. It was trying to learn the delicate Pink Floyd melodies that the two English of York friends, Bryan Josh (vocals, guitars and keyboards) and Liam Davison (vocals and guitars) created the basis of what would be Mostly Autumn. For the band to become perfect, joined to them some other band's members like Iain Jennings (vocals and keyboards), Kev Gibbons (whistles - an instrument widely used in Celtic folk), Bob Faulds (fiddle), Stuart Carver (bass), Alan Scott (drums) and specially Heather Findlay (lyrics, vocals, guitars, whistles, bodhran, tambourine and a lot of charisma and sensuality).

In 1998 they released their debut studio album 'For All We Shared', which won fans immediately, and began to receive invitations from festivals dedicated to progressive rock music worldwide. With the sudden notoriety and with each new album, it became visible the growth of the band and the unanimous recognition was obtained with the release of their third studio album 'The Last Bright Light' in 2001, considered their best studio work to date. Despite several changes into their line up, the backbone of the group and the spirit of the music continue keeping the flame burning very high.

'Heroes Never Die - The Anthology' is the debut compilation album of Mostly Autumn and was released in 2002. It provides an introduction to the band's music using re-recorded material from their first four studio albums 'For All We Shared' and 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past' of 1999, and 'The Last Bright Light' and 'Music Inspired By The Lord Of The Rings' of 2001. So, this anthology of Mostly Autumn isn't properly an ordinary compilation from the band but a revisit to some of their essential songs with new arrangements to produce a definitive introduction to Mostly Autumn's music.

The line up that participates on the anthology is Bryan Josh (lead and backing vocals and lead guitars), Heather Findley (lead and backing vocals), Iain Jennings (backing vocals, keyboards, piano, Hammond organ and synthesizers), Angela Goldthorpe (backing vocals, flute and recorders), Andy Smith (bass guitars) and Jonathon Blackmore (drums).

'Heroes Never Die - The Anthology' has twelve tracks. 'Never The Rainbow' is from 'The Last Bright Light'. It's a great fast rock song with a nice memorable catchy tune, nicely sung by Findlay and a good guitar work by Josh. 'We Come And We Go' is from 'The Last Bright Light'. It's a soft acoustic mellow ballad so characteristic of Mostly Autumn. It's a nice song with a catchy melody, reach vocal harmonies and a fine guitar work. 'Please' is from 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past'. It's a great song with great vocal harmonies, nice guitar work and a good keyboard performance. 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past' is from 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past'. This is the highlight of 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past'. It's a song with wonderful vocal harmony and chorus, one of the best pieces made by the band. This is a shorter version. 'Evergreen' is from 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past'. It has all the ingredients of a Mostly Autumn's song, strong and nice vocal harmonies, a slightly rockier tempo, the guitar style of David Gilmour and the unequivocal voice of Findlay. 'The Riders Of Rohan' is from 'Music Inspired By The Lord Of The Rings'. It's an uplifting and joyful rolling piano melody, sung in a friendly voice by Findlay. 'The Great Blue Pearl' is from 'The Spirit Of Autumn Past'. This is a very beautiful song with catchy chorus and Pink Floyd harmonies. It's a slow ballad introduced by Hammond organ and a nice guitar riff that features a superb guitar solo in Gilmour's vein. 'Noise From My Head' is the only original track on the anthology. It was never released on any studio album of the group. It's great and pleasant to hear. 'Half The Mountain' is from 'The Last Bright Light'. It's a nice song, another brilliant song with beautiful instrumental passages, great guitar work and powerful vocal parts. 'Shrinking Violet' is from 'The Last Bright Light'. It's a wonderful ballad superiorly sung by Findlay and a fantastic choral work on the back and a real superb guitar performance by Josh. 'Goodbye Alone' is from 'Music Inspired By The Lord Of The Rings'. It's a calm melancholic piece, with a good instrumentation and a nice guitar solo at the end. 'Heroes Never Die' is from 'For All We Shared'. This is the best song on their debut album and one of their best compositions. This is a great epic with a sumptuous final especially provided by the final guitar solo of Josh.

Conclusion: 'Heroes Never Die - The Anthology', is a compilation with some of their best tracks re-worked, re- crafted and re-recorded which has now been substituted by the double CD compilation 'Catch The Spirit ' The complete Anthology', released in the same year. In reality, 'Heroes Never Die - The Anthology' is an excellent collection of songs of some of the band's earlier musical works, the first four studio albums of the group, and as Bryan Josh wrote, we can considered those four studio albums the first chapter of the musical career of the band. Concluding, 'Heroes Never Die - The Anthology' has a truly astonishing collection of songs where every song is simply amazing. So, this is a great introduction to the band. Anyway, 'Catch The Spirit ' The complete Anthology' is the perfect introduction to the band.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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