16-03-2004, 05:56 PM
Here is what Kurt Shoemaker has to say about this album in the latest edition of the SA Rock Digest:
Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music.
'ROCKING AGAINST THE SYSTEM' - VARIOUS ARTISTS [RETRO FRESH CD119]
It's nice to visit with old friends who still sound young and fresh. Some
of these songs I haven't heard for upwards of a year, so spinning this
silver disc again feels good, not only by the joy music brings, but by the
good memories the music inspires.
Retro Fresh, a subsidiary label of Fresh Music, has released full-length CD
reissues of vinyl LPs by most of these groups, such as: éVoid, Via Afrika,
Bright Blue, Tribe After Tribe, Ellamental, Celtic Rumours, Dog Detachment,
No Friends of Harry, The Helicopters, Falling Mirror, The Dynamics, Peach,
and Sweatband.
The rest of the bands represented here by hits have Retro Fresh re-release
CDs on the way: Petit Cheval, Asylum Kids, The Spectres, Flash Harry, and
Psycho Reptiles. These will be given the Retro Fresh treatment that
routinely includes remastering and bonus tracks, and sometimes includes
band photos, mp3s of extra tracks, and a music video, like 'Johnny Calls
the Chemist' on Falling Mirror's CD of the same name.
Both sampler and showcase of the fine work Retro Fresh does, this is a fine
compilation containing hit after hit. In fact, this CD and 'Ocean Culture'
are my favourite compilations of SA groups because of how well they
represent the SA music scene of different decades, and, more importantly,
because they are just so good fun to listen to.
Why resist the charms of éVoid and Via Afrika? Enjoy the ballsy music of No
Friends of Harry, the brilliant pop rock of Ellamental, the power of Tribe
After Tribe and Asylum Kids, the songwriting perfection of The Helicopters,
the eternal classic, 'Johnny Calls the Chemist', and the funky, bassy
'Monster from the Bog' closing out the visit.
It is easy to say good things about the work the Retro Fresh people do
because they are true good things. Retro Fresh's rock reissue CDs always
have plenty of extras, and are made complete with detailed liner notes in
fat booklets. And if that were not enough, how about great layout and
typesetting? I tell you what, listening to this CD is like seeing old
friends again--and I encourage them to visit anytime.
Texas-based Kurt Shoemaker gives his unique views on SA music.
'ROCKING AGAINST THE SYSTEM' - VARIOUS ARTISTS [RETRO FRESH CD119]
It's nice to visit with old friends who still sound young and fresh. Some
of these songs I haven't heard for upwards of a year, so spinning this
silver disc again feels good, not only by the joy music brings, but by the
good memories the music inspires.
Retro Fresh, a subsidiary label of Fresh Music, has released full-length CD
reissues of vinyl LPs by most of these groups, such as: éVoid, Via Afrika,
Bright Blue, Tribe After Tribe, Ellamental, Celtic Rumours, Dog Detachment,
No Friends of Harry, The Helicopters, Falling Mirror, The Dynamics, Peach,
and Sweatband.
The rest of the bands represented here by hits have Retro Fresh re-release
CDs on the way: Petit Cheval, Asylum Kids, The Spectres, Flash Harry, and
Psycho Reptiles. These will be given the Retro Fresh treatment that
routinely includes remastering and bonus tracks, and sometimes includes
band photos, mp3s of extra tracks, and a music video, like 'Johnny Calls
the Chemist' on Falling Mirror's CD of the same name.
Both sampler and showcase of the fine work Retro Fresh does, this is a fine
compilation containing hit after hit. In fact, this CD and 'Ocean Culture'
are my favourite compilations of SA groups because of how well they
represent the SA music scene of different decades, and, more importantly,
because they are just so good fun to listen to.
Why resist the charms of éVoid and Via Afrika? Enjoy the ballsy music of No
Friends of Harry, the brilliant pop rock of Ellamental, the power of Tribe
After Tribe and Asylum Kids, the songwriting perfection of The Helicopters,
the eternal classic, 'Johnny Calls the Chemist', and the funky, bassy
'Monster from the Bog' closing out the visit.
It is easy to say good things about the work the Retro Fresh people do
because they are true good things. Retro Fresh's rock reissue CDs always
have plenty of extras, and are made complete with detailed liner notes in
fat booklets. And if that were not enough, how about great layout and
typesetting? I tell you what, listening to this CD is like seeing old
friends again--and I encourage them to visit anytime.