Newsgroups: rec.music.misc
Subject: REVIEW: Donovan Tribute - Island of Circles
From: carruthers@brandonu.ca (Kai'ckul)
Date: 26 Jul 92 09:32:29 CST
Organization: Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

VARIOUS ARTISTS - Island of Circles (A Donovan Tribute) (Nettwerk)

CAVEAT:  I have NOT heard the originals of these songs.  Call me a sheltered
youth.  So, I am reviewing this based on itself, not on itself based on the
originals.  Gottit?  =)

Latest in a slew of tribute albums comes this tribute to Donovan, featuring
a spoken-word introduction by the man himself.  Some may wonder why such a
tribute would be done in the first place, but a listen to this will dispel
any questions.  You may not want to slap a Donovan record on, but the SONGS
travel well into the 90s.

The initial single from this album was Brix E. Smith's rendition of "Hurdy
Gurdy Man", with special guest (and boyfriend) Nigel Kennedy on violin and
percussion.  Brix is smooth, but Nigel is rippin', turning in both acoustic
and electric violin solos which would do any metalhead proud.  Ace.

Both New York City's Hypnolovewheel and Seattle's Young Fresh Fellows turn
in tunes that sound like they came straight from 60's England.  HLW cover
"Epistle to Dippy" and YFF do "Mad John's Escape".  Both pure pop.  Same 
with Seattle's Posies, who do "The River Song".  Another chunk of English-
influenced pop, but unfortunately, this one hasn't left much of a mark.
Well-done but semi-forgettable.

As Nettwerk Records is situated in Vancouver, it comes as no surprise that
there's a healthy selection of that city's finest.  First up is folk-festival
favorites Spirit of the West, who put a Celtic spin on "Sunshine Superman",
but with a decidedly metallic edge.

Still not quite as metallic as either Windwalker or Superconductor (both from
Vancouver as well).  I primarily know Windwalker from their crazy cover of
Ministry's "So What?"  Both their cover here of "The Fat Angel", and Super-
conductor's take on "Colours" are full of punk fury and grinding guitars.
Both sound like there's 3 kazillion bandmembers churning away.  Must be 
something in the water.  Fun stuff.

Four of the tracks onboard are sequenced, beatbox-based , and are perhaps
some of the weaker points of the album.  No, although Butterfly Child & Papa
Sprain's version of "Lalena", and Julian Jones' reggae-tinged cover of 
"Armageddon" didn't really do a whole lot for me, Chocolate Factory's 
version of "Barabajagal" is truly fun.  London's No Man doing "Turquoise"
is pretty good, if not a standout.  The violin/beatbox combination is an
interesting touch.

Sarah McLachlan also contributes a track to the compilation.  Those who have
the American version of her latest album, Solace, will have heard her version
of "Wear Your Love Like Heaven".  It's a pleasant piece of pop, if not 
necessarily up to Sarah's usual fare.

Biggest surprise of the album for me was a group from Montreal called Black
Sox, who opted to do "Changes".  This is done very simply, REM or Grapes of
Wrath-esque instrumentation.  But WONDERFUL harmonies.  This is probably
my favorite track on the album now...

Change of Heart from Toronto start out "Black Widow" in a Blondie-style
raveup, but slow things down a bit while not letting up their hardcore
assault.  Melody prevails, though.

Last track:  "Riki Tiki Tavi" interpreted by winners of best band name on
the compilation, When People Were Shorter and Lived Near the Water.  I can't
figure out this track at all.  The music is great, but the vocals seem like
they were crammed in after the band realized they only had 3 minutes of studio
time left.  Heh.  Despite this, it serves as a powerful closer to this album.

Sadly missing from this compilation are the two tracks that served as b-sides
on the single, Rin Tin Tin's "Atlantis", and Joey Keithley's Instinct's 
hardcore cover of "Mellow Yellow".  The Rin Tin Tin is noteworthy especially
for being a Brave New Waves conspiracy, if not for the being the most disco
of the batch of songs released in conjunction with the project so far.

All in all, an eclectic collection of weirdos.  Well worth my record token.

Sean
carruthers@tkm.BrandonU.ca