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reviews | mojo (august 2008)



Themes box
Themes

A 25-CD box set. Exhaustive is an understatement

Set to tour again this autumn, with the promise of a full rendition of their 1982 classic New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84 (& the frankly less compelling prospect of Deacon Blue as their support), it's time due respect was given.

A reissue of the 1990 original, with the addition of a fifth volume taking the story up to 1992, Themes comprises over eight hours album tracks, remixes & live-cuts.

Volumes 1 & 2, covering '79 to '84. are glorious, with The American, I Travel, Love Song & Promised You A Miracle revealing the band at their curious, art-rocking best.

Although threatening from the mid-80's on to drown in its own bombast, on re-evaluation much of the stadium-era music still works.

The only real gripe? That there is, inexplicably, no room for their early classic, Changeling.

David Buckley
Mojo
4/5