JOURNEY'S END... AN ACOUSTIC ANTHOLOGY

On the surface this looks like a release the world didn't need to see. I mean, Caamora released She ac a CD and a live DVD not that long ago, and here come's a new double CD with live versions from various locations, outtakes and demos, an interview....and one new song - the title track of this release.

But in fact this is a very interesting release; and as I regard it one much more interesting than the ones preceding it as well. The live versions of various tracks from She, as well as a few selected items from Clive Nolan's extensive back catalogue, are performed in stripped down versions. Some but not all acoustic - the title description an acoustic anthology is only correct for about half of these tracks.

All of the live recordings are of simplified versions of the songs though; and for my sake it was quite a revelation to explore the songs from She in particular in this setting. Without the Wagnerian, melodramatic arrangements these songs for the most part come across as compelling creations, and many of them stellar too.

Most of all due to the raw, powerful yet restrained vocal performance by Agnieszka; whose vocals really come to their right in this particular kind of setting.

As for the outtakes and demos, many of them are fascinating and high class experiences in their own right. Personally I found the sacral sounding choir exploration In Aeternum the best of these - an amazing compositions with layered vocals creating a massive, rich atmosphere - and a compositions that should be performed by a real choir some day, preferably in a cathedral.

Not everything is perfect here of course; but of the 28 tracks here, 29 if you count the hidden Christmas song at the end of CD 2; there are more than enough high quality compositions to warrant buying this one - in particular if melancholy and melodramatic songs with female vocals and piano as the dominating elements sounds interesting.