Nuclear Burn

It's very difficult, and almost seems ungrateful to criticise this box set of Brand X's Charisma releases, because it's full marks to whoever thought it was a good idea to release this set at an affordable price equivalent to a 60% or so discount against the set if bought individually; but "nil pois" to whoever thought that spreading six albums and then some bonus tracks across 4 CDs was a good idea. When I was growing up [and I know kids of today are different but this isn't aimed at kids it's for fogeys like me] an album was something you listened to end-to-end pausing only to turn it over after the first twenty of so minutes: it had a beginning, an intermission and an end. It wasn't something you listened to with some other stuff dotted around it (in this context disc three in this set takes the prize with one track from "Moroccan Roll", one bonus track, the whole of "Masques" and two from "Product"!).OK, rant over, once I'd ripped the set it took me about half an hour to breakup the "discs" into the albums and that's a small price to pay for what we have here [I won't go on about the packaging and the quality of the booklet save to say that opportunities were lost]. Because music-wise what we have is some good stuff, it's six albums, being the first five of Brand X's eight studio albums and one live album (Livestock) plus four bonus tracks from previously unreleased BBC sessions.Of the studio albums, the earlier ones are, in my opinion, far better. "Unorthodox Behaviour" unleashed Brand X on the world as a unit to be reckoned with in high energy jazz fusion. Those who got here from Genesis will have been gobsmacked to hear Phil Collins in this setting, and while his drumming was supreme this wasn't all about Collins as his fellow band members showed what they too could do. But while the musicianship is superb as a set the compositions are limited and the control too tight to let any one really cut loose so four out of five.But with "Moroccan Roll" things loosened-up a bit. This is probably my favourite of this set, but only by a short head. I have a bit of a passion for world music and the international inspired rhythms and textures that the group at this stage in their prime were experimenting with are inspired, five out of five. Despite a change of personnel Brand X remained in their prime for "Masques" which with more consistency than "Moroccan Roll" will be for many their favourite Brand X album although for me it just loses out to "Moroccan Roll", give me experimental over consistent, but it's still a five out of five!Disappointingly "Product" includes two tracks where Phil Collins sings taking Brand X away from the knitting that they should have stuck to and into second phase Genesis territory, elsewhere the spark has turned into an ember and the jazz fusion excitement from the earlier albums is turned down to give a more commercial sound, so somewhere between three and four out of five; and the final studio album in this set "Do They Hurt" from 1980 is in my opinion best left aside, the tracks are largely outtakes from the "Product" session and there's a reason why they didn't make the original cut, they are weak, too repetitive and largely unresolved [at best much of this is call centre hold music and I keep expecting a voice to tell me my call is important] so only three out of five.However music is of course at its best in a live setting where the players have the freedom to express themselves and that's what "Livestock" is about. Freed from the constraints of the studio and without the need to meet the record company's prescriptive commercial formula Brand X use the opportunity to stretch out and show what they can do individually and collectively, another five out of five.So whether you are a long-term fan of Brand X (if you are a fan of Genesis or Phil Collins and want to expand your collection, see below) or an arriviste looking to build a collection of UK '70s jazz fusion [don't snigger] then this is a good buy, somewhere between 25 and 26 out of 30, so recognising the value for money that's a round five stars.But beware if you are a fan of Genesis that's not a reason to buy this you may not like it, I don't like Genesis with/without Peter Gabriel but I do like jazz fusion; if however you are a fan of Phil Collins' solo albums save your money and your disappointment, you almost certainly won't like this. You have been warned.

I can only agree 100% with the positive reviews from other people on here. Having been a massive Brand X fan from 76 onwards ( I saw them at Hammy in London in 78 supporting Bruford ) & with all 7 vinyl Lp's in my collection ..yes 7 ( Weirdly this CD seems to omit 'Is There Anything About' though this is at no great loss as I personal feel it was a weak album) however like many I have had this collection in my watch list for a while & decided to grab while it was at such a bargain price & I am so glad I did!Brand X were unique in that wonderful decade, the most creative & technically superb musical period ..the 70's!. Early albums like Unorthodox Behavior & Moroccan Roll set the scene for- as Phil Collins used to say- Where he went to have fun! & with virtuoso players like Percy Jones on bass Phil showed what he was capable of outside the confines of his main band the brilliant Genesis.The first couple of albums were terrific and a great first step into what was to come from such an amazing group of players.My personal fave of that period is 'Product' as by then Phil had rejoined the band & sort of continued where he left off.'Algon' 'not good enough See Me' & 'Soho' are stand out tracks from 'Product' but really the whole album is terrific!Lastly I do agree with many about the boring cover art, given that Hypgnosis produced all Brand X album covers & were highly original it would have been nice to see some sort of homage to Storm Thorgeson as part of this package but really I am just nit picking.A fabulous collection worthy of any proper Hi Fi system , remastered or not this set sounds bright & crisp with plenty of bottom end extension.I simply love it!

Like may Genesis fans, I bought the first Brand X album as a bit of a punt. I was keen to hear Phil Collins drumming in a different context. "Unorthodox Behaviour" was a bit of a challenge at first but before long its quirky jazz-rock splendours revealed themselves through the beautiful playing of all the musicians. After this, I was hooked and kept up with the band as they developed. In terms of production and VFM this compilation is excellent. The only slight niggle is that the original albums overrun into eachother and disrupt the 'flow' of individual albums, with the beginning of the second album ending CD #1 and so on. No doubt this technique has kept the cost down, so well done on not ripping off fans. Mind, if you aren't a hard core fan used to the albums' running orders, this shouldn't be a problem. If you're a casual fan or just intrigued by Brand X (the band that made Small Bald Phil cool for a year) this compilation does not cost the earth and will reward you with its many delights, though patience and attentiveness MAY be required! NB Phil Collins is a brilliant drummer. There. I've said it.

I was lucky enough to see Brand X live on many occasions. Their brand of jazz rock achieved a cross between free-form and structural formats with some spectacular 'hooks ' that stay in memory. This package includes their first 5, superb albums, plus the excellent BBC sessions. Just fantastic 👏