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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Get a better introduction..., 25 July 2009
The best introduction to (the UK) Nirvana is their greatest hits 'Travelling On A Cloud'. (Failing that, buy 'All Of Us', which is probably their most typical album.)
The reasons why this is not the best introduction: on this CD -
Track 1, the mono mix, is great for collectors and completists, but it's more of a demo with a Vienna Boys Choir backing vocals and spartan instrumentation. Interesting, but it's not the 'real' track with full orchestra and no obvious heavenly choir.
Track 5, Rainbow Chaser, is a pretty awful funked-up rockier version of the better-known, slower tempo, phased hit single classic.
The rest of the choices are uninspired, so for that reason I'm giving 3 stars to a 5-star band.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
60s PSYCHEDELIA LIVES ON WITH NIRVANA, 30 April 2000
This review is from: Travelling On A Cloud (Audio CD)
Often confused with the 90s grunge band, this British Nirvana belonged to a time of musical experimentation and is very much a 60s item. Formed as a 5 piece band in 1967 where some of this compilation album's material draws from, the band recorded the ambitious Simon Simopath (also available) - a concept album that predates many better known examples of the genre. It included the timeless PENTECOST HOTEL (track 2 on this set) and is a fine example of the band's ability to match clever lyrics to big orchestrations. WE CAN HELP YOU from the same album was covered and was a New Musical Express top 30 hit for the Alan Bown set on the short lived Music Factory label. I defy anyone to stop singing this tune from the second they hear the infectious chorus. The bands 1968 and beyond material when they were down to a duo, writers Alex Spyropolous and Patrick Campbell-Lyons, is well showcased here with their best known track RAINBOW CHASER together with TRAPEZE, MELANIE BLUE and THE SHOW MUST GO ON. You need to be in the right frame of mind to get into Nirvana - this is not music you would hear in an elevator - but it was a brave attempt to establish a new direction in music which sadly no one has covered since.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Take a trip in time, 15 May 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Travelling On A Cloud (Audio CD)
Dig out that old pair of flares from the back of the wardrobe,light up some joss sticks,put on Nirvana and be instantly transported back to the heady days of the summer of love. If you were alivebin the mid-late sixties you will definitely have heard Nirvana.You probably didn't know who they were,you almost certainly didn't buy any of their records but there they were providing part of the sountrack to those special days. This album starts with what are probably their three best known songs.First the awesome "Rainbow Chaser" with its wonderful psychedelic sound heavy with "phasing".This is followed by the equally great "Pentecost Hotel" a tune that has probably lain dormant in the back of your mind for over 30 years. Then comes the highlight for me,the wistful, haunting and wonderfully understated "Tiny Goddess".The next 2 tracks don't do much for me but "Trapeze" and "Satelite Jockey" both have a happy sixties feel."Wings Of Love" which follows is laughable, it sounds like something Father Ted and Dougal might have written for the Eurovision contest! "The Show Must Go On" sounds very much like a modern New Age number, "The Touchables" again has that joyous 60's feel and so does "We Can Help You" whose catchy riff you will almost certainly recognise.The last two tracks are unfortunately not up to much.So, there you are, for the price of three gallons of petrol you can have instant nostalgia permanently installed in your c.d. collection.Well worth buying for "Tiny Goddess" alone in my opinion but withanother 8 good tracks an indispensible addition to the music library of all faded hippies (in whoseranks I include myself).
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