SYMPHONIE POUR LE JOUR OÙ BRÛLERONT LES CITÉS / MUSIQUE POUR L'ODYSSÉE / GÉNÉRATION SANS FUTUR / ARCHIVES I

I will not describe again the three previously available albums, so please read up my reviews on the albums' separate entries. Regarding the reproduction of those three albums, there are a few flaws, most notably the lack of reproduction of the original artwork, those being replaced by another central booklet representing dancing acrobats in a foggy mountain landscape. Another weak point is that the second album Odyssée is cut in between the two discs when the last track could've been included to make the first two albums on a single disc. The explanation for this is fairly easy: this Mantra release dates from the early 90's and back then, it was only possible to stack 75 mins of music rather than the 80 mins of nowadays. Hopefully should this compilation one day be re-issued once more (if it has not already), this will be fixed. Please not that on this compilation figures the re-recorded version of the debut album - I never heard the original version from 76. The main difference between the 76-version and its re- mixed 80-version is a choice of more guitars or violin.

The main interest of this compilation (outside acquiring three albums for a fairly cheap price) is the second part of the second disc: the archives. Apparently, the first line-ups of AZ were centred around triple-neck guitarist Rocco Fernandez, but there is no classic era members this early in the group's career. From 69, dates an incredibly advanced ethnic-laced hard rock lasting just over the 2 min-mark called Sangria, but this is more Moroccan influenced rather than Spanish. Also present on this disc is a 1972 live track dating from the reference club Golf Drouot, but by this time, Both Hourbette and Zaboitzeff are in the group, and Rocco the only remaining member from the previous recording session. We are still a far cry from AZ's excellent works and this track is a total waste of time, with bad singing, approximate playing and extremely execrable recording sound. From 76 is a relatively much more interesting live track (sound quality just acceptable), but still far away from what you might expect from AZ, even if the playing progression is quite impressive from the previous track, with Soarez and Cardon in the fold. The last track is from 85 and is Zaboitzeff playing all of the instrument on his own and again, one wonders what the logic is behind releasing such an awkward and far-related track as the others archives tracks present here

You might be faced with a rather tough choice of acquiring the three albums separately (with their own artwork) or getting this compilation (probably cheaper), but with not much of an interesting archives section. Your call on this one!!!!