Various Artists: Streaming Hot (Angel Air is 16 1997-2013)

Never a label shy of celebrating its anniversaries, or collecting together sections of its catalogue into neat little compilations, the obvious move when they hit the ripe old age of 16 was for UK reissues specialists and occasional releasers of new music Angel Air to release the label showcase compilation Streaming Hot.

So with the premise of taking the top 16 Angel Air streamed tracks on Spotify and Deezer from the last twelve months, Streaming Hot is aptly named. However popular tastes and top sellers are seldom the best indicator of great, involving music, meaning that with this collection only concentrating on one sixteenth of the labels impressive catalogue and then relying on "web-hits", the likes of Wishbone Ash, Ian Gillan, Red Jasper, Andy Kim, Danny Peyronel, Steve Ellis, Mott, Robin George, Oliver Dawson Saxon, Snafu, Stray and Tommy James, who have all released excellent albums through AA are nowhere to be seen. Instead we get Broken English, The Korgis, Mo Foster, The Storys and Eric Bell and while suitably eclectic, the results are all decidedly "easy" on the ear. That said Johnny Warman's Peter Gabriel-ish "Screaming Jets" is captivating, British Lions (a band from the Mott The Hoople lineage) thump and pump through the gritty "Wild In The Streets", Foghat take us on an excellent bluesy live take on their classic "Slow Ride" and one-time Atomic Rooster man John DuCann grooves with style on his lone solo hit "Don't Be A Dummy". That still leaves time for "The Road To Venezuela" to introduce the folky, classically infused gentle prog of Stackridge, while for UK listeners "No Mean City", which was the theme to cult Scottish detective series Taggart (famous for its star using the line, "there's been a murrrrdurrrr" over and over) will possibly be the most recognisable song here, if not the one which has aged best, even with a trademark killer vocal from the lady herself. However in truth, while the idea behind Streaming Hot makes perfect sense, it doesn't actually showcase the true scope and breadth of the material put out by Angel Air over the years. Either of the more genre specific compilations War Horses – Angel Air Rocks, or Ventis Secundis, Tene Cursum – This Is Progressive Rock doing a far better job in that regard.

In an age when we are told that sales of physical music product is in irreversible decline and record labels come and go quicker than London buses, the very fact that Angel Air have for 16 years had the tenacity, expertise and energy to keep expanding their catalogue and back it to the hilt is to be celebrated. Streaming Hot may not quite be the best example of how they've achieved that feat, but a quick browse through the catalogue on their website certainly does.

Happy Birthday Angel Air and here's to the next 16 years of streaming and releasing.

Track Listing
1. Do You Really Want Me Back - BROKEN ENGLISH
2. Screaming Jets - JOHNNY WARMAN
3. Wild In The Streets - BRITISH LIONS
4. Oh Yeah - BROKEN HOME
5. This Worlds For Everyone - THE KORGIS
6. No Mean City - MAGGIE BELL
7. The Road To Venezuela - STACKRIDGE
8. Analytical Engine - MO FOSTER
9. Sweet Surrender - RAY RUSSELL
10. Slow Ride - FOGHAT
11. It's Not Easy - CONSORTIUM
12. Don't Be A Dummy - JOHN DU CANN
13. Everybody Wants You To Make It - THE STORYS
14. The Ending Credits - ROB THOMPSON
15. Irish Boy - ERIC BELL
16. Walk The Line - RAY MAJORS

Added: August 3rd 2013
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Angel Air Records
Hits: 1705
Language: english

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