A wee bit disappointing
Lypo Suck | Hades, United States | 10/04/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The contents of this anthology were not quite what I expected. Here's why: Artery's most vital moment is their early 80s mini-album "Oceans." "Oceans'" caught Artery's transformation from quirky, low-fi, manic, buzz-punk into moody, mature, atmospheric, goth-like, attractive, post-punk. It's a true cult classic, inhabiting stylistic territory somewhere between the doomy ambience of Joy Division's quieter moments and the energy and theatricality of the Teardrop Explodes. Signature song "Into the Garden," a lush, intense, catchy surge of post-punk moodiness, was even championed by John Peel. However, *two* compilations have recently surfaced (this one included), neither of which contain the classic EP in its entirety, nor do they contain all 6 of "Oceans'" songs collectively. If you want "Oceans," you're outta luck. Sadly, this fact does great injustice to Artery's legacy, and creates a confusing and incomplete picture for newcomers.
For what it is, this compilation isn't bad, but it contains little that is stylistically similar to "Oceans," and only three songs from "Oceans" are featured here, tacked onto the very end. The driving, minor key should've-been-a-hit "Afterwards" that appears here is a different (and inferior) version from the one on "Oceans."
Most of this comp consists of pre-"Oceans" demos and singles, and can be described as spirited, fuzzy, off-kilter, and occasionally catchy post-punk, comparable to the manic art-punk sketches of pragVEC or "Dragnet"-era Fall. The songs vary in quality, but standouts include the beautiful, droney "Louise," a quirky original version of "The Clown," the peppy pop-punk of "Mother Moon," and the disjointed tangle that is "Unbalanced." Hardcore Artery fans and enthusiasts of the scrappier side of post-punk will dig this, but people seeking out the more mature, artsy, atmospheric pop of "Oceans" might be disappointed.
So, if you're looking for "Oceans," or some clue as to what the fuss was about, you won't find much of it here. But if you're looking for scratchy post-punk, you need this CD. What really needed to happen was a reissue of the complete "Oceans" EP with all of this other stuff tacked on as bonus tracks to fluff it out. That this didn't happen is utterly perplexing."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1