2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
better late than never, May 29, 2001
So 10 years down the line EMI decides to put out "a best of" of the grandfathers of electro. Clocking in at a massive 78 minutes this is a dream for any die-hard Cabaret Voltaire fan. Encompassing just the 2 EMI releases "CODE" & "GROOVY LAIDBACK & NASTY" this "best of" is just that. 5 Stars for an album that contains material dating back to 1987, when CD singles were unheard of. However, the track listing on the cover does not correlate to the track listing on the disc itself, but true CABS fans should know the tracks already. My personal favourite is the thumping dance version of "Keep On (Clubbing)", its infectious beat filling the entire room. Now I can truly say that my Cabaret Voltaire CD collection is complete. I just wish they would reform.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
not quite conforming, March 10, 2003
as much as I love the other reviews of this disc, I cant escape the feeling that they don't quite get this release. This compilation concerns itself with CV's later releases. Alot of CV "fans" dont care for this period. Lacking the penchant for guileless noise making of their earlier efforts, this is CV trying to play by the rules-somewhat. This newly disciplined approach highlights their evolution from pop pranksters to advanced pop protagonists. Under much duress during the virgin-emi phase of their career, faced with unreal corporate expectations, yet accused of selling out by many- this is the sound of CV going 'pop,' or at least their version of it.. Faced with the horror of having unknowingly sold the rights to their name to emi- they took the reigns of the grovvy laid back and nasty lp back from the record company, forcing emi to abandon their plans for 10 city to tour and record as CV. Instead CV took this idea and ran with it- recording groovy laid back and nasty with 10 cityI. think this is the pinnacle of their songwriting careers. laboring beneath the framework provided, as a proper pop group, they chew up and spit out- susprise!- real pop songs! considering their noise maker past this is a minor miracle. and they've never sounded better.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A must for all CV fans, July 3, 2001
First of all, this is a 'selected' (by EMI) compilation of remixes of CV tracks from their period with the label from 1987 to 1990.
It starts off brightly with 'Don't Argue' apart from the female backing singers!
The Francois Kevorkian remix of 'Thank You America' is a highpoint, the track sounding polished and smooth.
However there are lowpoints, the woeful remixes of 'Here to Go' and 'Keep On'.
But matters improve with the CV remix of 'Magic' and particularly the wonderful CV remix of 'Rescue Me (City Lights)', both of which were originally written by CV and Marshall Jefferson, which sprawls outwards from its funky/hip-hop intro to a beautiful melodic dance track.
It ends with the CV remix of 'Easy Life' another great track and remix. Melody and smoothness were the key in this phase of CV's career.
Well worth checking out to see how influential CV were in the house scene. Not the best introduction to the sound of CV, more for the real fan and those who have an interest in the early house scene.
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