Post by ©DURANMANIA Board Team on May 13, 2005 3:30:51 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300]Arcadia: singles collection (Boxset) review[/glow]
yet another Duran-related release, reviewed by www.remembertheeighties.com
ARCADIA
Singles Collection (boxset)
Reviewed By Gil Roland
A funny thing happened to Duran Duran at the peak of their popularity back in 1984…they split themselves into two separate units. Bassist and Lead guitarist John and Andy Taylor (no relation) formed a new band called the Power Station that proved to be a successful merging of Funk and Rock. However, the remaining members of Duran, Singer Simon Lebon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and Drummer Roger Taylor, quickly came together to form Arcadia, a band that was to be as esoterically, European and atmospheric as The Power Station was as Raw, very much American Rock with soul underpinnings.
Although the Power Station was more widely received by the Duran fans and the public in general, Arcadia proved no less as powerful as the other group. It has grown into a somewhat underground cult favorite among those in the know. EMI recognized this, and thus has released a limited edition Box set of the Arcadia singles in their entirely. This Collection is aimed squarely at Duran’s core fan base, and it is indeed a welcome addition to their collection.
The packaging is a compliment to the music itself. Housed in a black box trimmed with the Arcadia logo and a picture of the three members right in the center. This elegant design gives you the idea of what the box set contains. All five of the original Arcadia single releases with their Individual cover art! The Cds themselves all have the cryptic Arcadia logo on each one of them. This is truly for the serious collector of Duran music.
The music itself has been given a complete makeover as well. Full 24-bit remastering has added a clarity that was missing on previous releases. From the different mixes of ‘Election Day,’ right down to the full haunted realized version of ‘Rose Arcana,’ to the smooth pop that was to become ‘the Flame’. On first listen you wonder why this project was not as well received in the states, as it so duly was deserved to be. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes was the mastermind behind this project, and with the use of artist ranging from Sting to Grace Jones, Herbie Hanthingy and David Gilmour, to Roxy Music saxophonist Andy McKay and Chic producer Nile Rodgers, the music that came out of this project was nothing short of class to the highest order.
Since this collection is only being released as a limited edition, try get on the list for your copy. From the first single out of the box, Election Day, you’ll be immediately taken back to 1985, and the class and atmosphere that the sounds on these singles possess will remind you of that time in pop music when synths, in this reviewers opinion, were at their highest art form since this release.
An excellent release for a band that deserved more credit than was given at the time. My highest recommendation.
yet another Duran-related release, reviewed by www.remembertheeighties.com
ARCADIA
Singles Collection (boxset)
Reviewed By Gil Roland
A funny thing happened to Duran Duran at the peak of their popularity back in 1984…they split themselves into two separate units. Bassist and Lead guitarist John and Andy Taylor (no relation) formed a new band called the Power Station that proved to be a successful merging of Funk and Rock. However, the remaining members of Duran, Singer Simon Lebon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and Drummer Roger Taylor, quickly came together to form Arcadia, a band that was to be as esoterically, European and atmospheric as The Power Station was as Raw, very much American Rock with soul underpinnings.
Although the Power Station was more widely received by the Duran fans and the public in general, Arcadia proved no less as powerful as the other group. It has grown into a somewhat underground cult favorite among those in the know. EMI recognized this, and thus has released a limited edition Box set of the Arcadia singles in their entirely. This Collection is aimed squarely at Duran’s core fan base, and it is indeed a welcome addition to their collection.
The packaging is a compliment to the music itself. Housed in a black box trimmed with the Arcadia logo and a picture of the three members right in the center. This elegant design gives you the idea of what the box set contains. All five of the original Arcadia single releases with their Individual cover art! The Cds themselves all have the cryptic Arcadia logo on each one of them. This is truly for the serious collector of Duran music.
The music itself has been given a complete makeover as well. Full 24-bit remastering has added a clarity that was missing on previous releases. From the different mixes of ‘Election Day,’ right down to the full haunted realized version of ‘Rose Arcana,’ to the smooth pop that was to become ‘the Flame’. On first listen you wonder why this project was not as well received in the states, as it so duly was deserved to be. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes was the mastermind behind this project, and with the use of artist ranging from Sting to Grace Jones, Herbie Hanthingy and David Gilmour, to Roxy Music saxophonist Andy McKay and Chic producer Nile Rodgers, the music that came out of this project was nothing short of class to the highest order.
Since this collection is only being released as a limited edition, try get on the list for your copy. From the first single out of the box, Election Day, you’ll be immediately taken back to 1985, and the class and atmosphere that the sounds on these singles possess will remind you of that time in pop music when synths, in this reviewers opinion, were at their highest art form since this release.
An excellent release for a band that deserved more credit than was given at the time. My highest recommendation.