Various Artists: Cyclops Sampler 5

Grab bag, mixed bag, call it what you will, this double disc collection gives an overview of the Cyclops label and the many diverse bands under the single-eyed umbrella. Some are names you know, others are vaguely familiar, while others fall into that third category that needs no words to describe it at all.

There are the "money" bands (Mostly Autumn, Parallel Or 90 Degrees), the prestige bands (Nice Beaver) and those who are obvious favorites of someone at the label (Twelfth Night). Not that any of those are bad distinctions to carry––Po90's previously unreleased "Blues For Lear" licks the likes of Pineapple Thief and Saens right off the second disc, making you wonder why, once again, Andy Tillison Diskdrive and his band o' merriment makers haven't had a larger impact on this side of the Atlantic; Mostly Autumn show why they've received some acclaim outside of their native continent and (again) why they deserve more, though it seems a little unfair that they're given two tracks here.

Nice Beaver (For those who don't yet have the band's On Dry Land disc, you need it) prove themselves as one of the strongest bands on the label, a collective that could, potentially, eclipse the likes of Henry Fool to take the grand prize of Most Endearing New Progressive Band. And Flamborough Head (one of the strangest names ever, for sure) prove that they're still one of prog's most lovable underdogs. Also present here are Karda Estra who prove highly memorable and Odyssice, who don't. There's a terrific track from Manning (thanks mostly to some seriously good guitar work), an intriguing one from Mysterkah and one that inspires sometimes conflicting emotions from Vulgar Unicorn.

In short, compilations are fun to have mostly because they provide a glimpse of the zeniths and nadirs of a label's roster and this is certainly no exception. Don't hesitate to grab this before diving deeper into the Cyclops oeuvre.

Added: October 13th 2003
Reviewer: Jedd Beaudoin
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Language: english

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