This two-CD collection of mostly unavailable recordings offers something for all who like their music on the fringe. Canterbury and space/psychedelic sounds are represented by Short Wawe, (featuring Hugh Hopper, ex-Soft Machine), Didier Malherbe (ex Gong), Pip Pyle and Phil Miller (both ex-National Health/Hatfield and the North), Daevid Allen & the Magic Brothers (former Gong members do space rock cum Terry Riley).

The rest ranges from avant rock to the Balinese Monkey chant and much more.

To call this anthology eclectic is quite the understatement. Nimbus sound like a mixture of Univers Zero and Von Zamla (which is to say, they are terrific!), whereas Maestro Subgum & the Whole does an a cappella number that sounds like an avant rock version of the Bobs. Glenn Philips dishes up some solid rock guitar with a slightly quirky edge, while Mike Hovancsek cranks out cosmic third worldisms with electronics and home-made/found instruments. All this plus Pere Ubu, Peter Blegvad, the Clubfoot Orchestra, Arthur Brown (remember "Fire"?), Amy Denio, Ron Geesin and many more.

Dean Suzuki OPTION Nr. 56 - 94, USA

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