Customer Reviews

From Beyond 1987-1995: The Best of 2

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From Beyond 2 is not a typical "best-of" album but a compilation of atmospheric soundscapes covering the bands last years of existance. This seems to be alligned with the bands own history which could be characterized as a never fullfilled promise, at least from a commercial perspective. Given the limited availability of earlier releases, I was pretty eager to get a hold of this album in search of previously unavailable and unreleased Comsat Jewels.

My favorite -previously non released- songs of the album are "I hear a new World", "Valley of the Nile", "Always near" and "Goddess" for different reasons. "Valley of the Nile" is a much more subtle acoustic version of the bombastic original on "The Glamour". It brings out a wonderfull and unusual melodic sequence of chords so typical for many of the great Comsat songs. "Goddess" and "I hear a new World" are catching songs as they kick and rumble. "Always near" stands out because of it's Comsat unlike piano solo. Many of the other songs were released on realier Comsat albums.

So it this a great album? The album ends with 3 experimental post Comsat tracks which don't really fit with the sound of the album as a whole. This is a disappointing end to the album, which prevents is from being great. It's worth seeking out if you are a Comsat fan, if only for "I hear a new world" and "Valley of the Nile". But if you're not a die-hard Comsat fan, the album would not be the best introduction to the band. Hopefully From Beyond 1 will hit the spot.

This is no bad compilation at all for the recording years 1987-1995 of one of the best rock/guitar bands of the 80's. Yes, it's disappointing that the compilation has not been expanded with tracks of the earlier years containing songs from their great albums as 'Fiction' or 'Sleep no more'. But there are some great songs on it as 'My Mind's Eye', 'Always Near', 'Goddess' and 'Shiva Descending'. I would advice getting a copy from these hard to get earlier albums but also 'My mind's Eye' or the somewhat harder rocking album 'The Glamour' are great albums to have in your collection. The albums 'Land' or 'Seven Days Weekend' are not those kind of albums the Comsat Angels got there publicity on and they aren't my favourites. If you like the now a days Coldplay or Snow Patrol listen also to the Comsat Angels; it was a great band! You'll not be disapppointed!