A game of three halves, as it were, this collection kicks off in fine style with a 16-track disc, mostly taking in recent fare, varying in style from the sweet intro opener of Surfing A Slow Wave and Celtic fiddling of Ancient Remedy, to the plod-blues of Baby What You Want Me To Do. In between, Andy Powell and chums throw in the Asia-like The Ring (with accordion), some fine blues-boogie and the 1985 Spinal�Tap-inspiring singalong sound of Living Proof. A couple of romping folk-rockers, some slick slide guitar and fine rocking abound.
The companion 12-track disc is less of a hit, with the reggae-lite Valediction bobbing amid a sea of boogie and folk touches that pass by without much fanfare. The 13- minute Phoenix has plenty of wah and battering, but only Cell Of Fame rocks with vibrancy. The 13- song third disc is a mix of its predecessors, with some nice acoustic moments, notably a cavalier Hard Times, a new wave Loose Change, and some basic roadhouse stuff, rounded off by the strings-backed, Uriah Heepesque Warrior.
