Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Treasure chest, 30 Dec 2005
I was over the moon when it was revealed that this collection was going to be released on cd. I would have bought even without the extra tracks, but these added tracks complete the brilliance of this album.
Clapham junction has to be one of the finest Toyah tracks ever, and i cant think why this was never released as a single. It is so full of energy and emanates such a positive feel about life that anyone who does not jump up and around to this song (or even tap their feet to it)is seriously sad.The other tracks descibe Toyah to the tee as each and everyone of them have different emotions,soundscapes and landscapes that entertwine and produce not only her hair colour but colour of her life.
The demo to Its a mystery is rather haunting and even though the song is almost 3 decades old is rather fresh and somewhat new. The highlight of this release is the final track Rinaphobia. An astonishingly scary track mixed in with emotional theatricality, which creates the perfect blend of vocal and music married into one form.Sheer brilliance.
This is not only a collecters album but an album that anyone who is interested in Toyah or at least sampling her work to buy and cherish.No other album in the history of music will come close to this.
Twenty years late, however "Well done Toyah"(even though Safari released this then without you ever knowing, this is your work)
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wrapping up the Safari years, 23 Oct 2006
'Mayhem' was originally released (without Toyah's knowledge) in 1985. The LP contained 12 songs/versions from Toyah's time with Safari records, not available on any previous release. The cassette issue included 3 additional songs, two of which were very early demos. `Mayhem' was only available for a short time, and quickly became a collector's item.
Listening to `Mayhem', it's bewildering why some of these wonderful songs were shelved at the time of recording. Many are just as good, and some even better than what appear on the releases from these recordings, while others are definitely not the best. The original release did not indicate any recording information, so it was up to the listener to try to figure what album or year the songs date from. This expanded edition of `Mayhem' clears up many of those mysteries.
One of the most uplifting and exciting songs from Toyah's recorded output is the album opener, "Clapham Junction". The song was an outtake from the `Four More From Toyah' sessions, which is a surprise because it's by far the strongest thing recorded from those sessions.
"Change of Scenery", "You're My Hero" and "Island Race" were written by Keith Hale, who was responsible for Toyah's first major hit, "It's a Mystery". Of those 3 songs, the only satisfying recording, IMHO, is "Change of Scenery". Though the lyrics are not the most prolific, it has a catchy chorus and some engaging keyboard work. And while "Island Race" is passable background music, "You're My Hero" has a remarkably dull chorus and forgettable arrangements.
Probably one of the worst things Toyah recorded in her early days was the classic rock sound of "Gaoler". It is so out of place from anything she did, as it comes across as a Led Zeppelin style rocker.
"Paradise Child" is a great upbeat number from `The Changeling' recording sessions. `The Changeling' is such a wonderful album, so the inclusion of this outtake is a real bonus.
"Israel" and "Christmas Carol" sound to have been recorded in the same session, and could have been great additions to Toyah's earliest releases.
"The Merchant and the Nubile" is my personal favorite. It's an early/alternate version of "War Boys", containing lyrics that would eventually be included in such Toyah classics as "Jungles of Jupiter" and "Alien". Though the drumming is less tribal than in "War Boys", the structure definitely adds to Toyah's early Gothic credibility.
The version of "Danced" included on this release is from a radio session. This recording more closely resembles the version Toyah presented live at the time.
"I Believe in Father Christmas" is a cover version Toyah recorded in 1982 for a televised Christmas special. She sings it beautifully.
This special edition also includes 5 additional songs scraped together from various demo sessions. "Love Me" and "Tribal Look" are from the same session as "Guilty" and "Three Sided Face". Though the final versions are still superior, the versions included here are pleasant curiosities.
"Run Wild, Run Free" sounds almost as good as the finished song, though includes a line that was dropped from the final version.
The biggest surprise of the bonus material is the Keith Hale song, "Rinaphonbia". This song is breathtaking in a terrifying way. The music is very dark and Gothic, and Toyah sings, screams and growls it to perfection. It gives me chills in the most satisfying way.
The thick booklet includes a load of great information about the songs, as well as a bunch of great, rare photographs.
After Cherry Red records released their first Toyah Safari Records Singles Collection, I contacted them, asking if they would consider releasing `Mayhem'. They decided it was worth it and proceeded to prepare the release. Unfortunately, as the release date approached, it was found the `Mayhem' master tape was unusable. To keep on schedule a master was prepared using various LP and cassette sources. For some unknown reason, the person who originally mastered the CD compressed 10 of the songs into MP3 files, which always leaves unpleasant artifacts in the sound. In addition to the compression, many of the songs transferred from cassette and LP sounded very poor. I was horrified. I contacted the record label, and ultimately provided a brand new, completely remastered and uncompressed master with dramatically improved sound quality. The CD was originally released in November 2005 with an initial pressing of 1000. That pressing sold out quite fast, and the new improved master was sent to production in February 2006. All stock from around that date onward will be the improved version. The only visible difference between the first and second pressing is a remastering credit to me on the last page of the booklet. If you purchased this CD soon after its release, and were not pleased with some of the limitations, you may want to get your hands on another copy. If you didn't notice anything unsatisfying about your CD, then continue to enjoy these great Toyah songs that were never meant to be heard. While I don't want to condone record companies releasing material without an artists consent, I'm very glad that Safari did just that because some of these songs are far too good to have been lost forever. Toyah should be very proud of (most of) them.
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