What does it sound like?:
This 180 gram vinyl box set (which also comes with a download code) is in part a reissue of the original 1992 compilation album, which rounded up the band’s recordings between 1980-83. It’s now augmented by two 12 inch singles – a 1992 rerecording of Temple Of Love featuring Israeli vocalist Ofra Haza, and their final release to date, 1993’s Under The Gun.
The original double album is a bit hit and miss at times – annoyingly it’s not in chronological order, but it captures the band in their formative years, including cover versions of The Stones’ Gimme Shelter and Iggy’s 1969, both of which were live favourites, and which still acquit themselves very well indeed. In summary, sides one and two have the 1983 Alice and Reptile House eps, side 3 has the Temple Of Love single material from later that same year, while side four has the earliest songs here, with two single releases dating from 1980 and ‘82.
The two 12 inch singles are more representative of the later Sisters sound, and have both dated well, sounding as bombastic as ever. The 1993 rerecording of Alice stands out, but Temple Of Love, Vision Thing and Under The Gun all still sound great and contemporary even now.
What does it all *mean*?
It’s rather a strange feeing hearing again songs like Body Electric and The Damage Done thirty odd years later – some of their power does seem to have faded over the ensuing years, or maybe it’s me that’s changed! Nevertheless, it’s certainly brought back a few memories of university days (and nights) hearing the Alice and Reptile House ep’s again. Good stuff!
Goes well with…
Nights spent in dark underground clubs.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Other Sisters albums, goth etc.
Most of the music on this is superhuman. There was no one like the Sisters at their peak, absolutely superb.
That said, I have a huge grumble with the formatting of this release. Alice, Temple Of Love and The Reptile House should all have been repackaged as their original 12″ format, with the period artwork and side splits, while the shoddier early 90s stuff (the Temple remake, which, Ofra Haza aside, is far worse than the original, and Under The Gun, which everybody hates) should have been the stuff forced onto a combined disc. Would have been nice to have 7″ replicas for Anaconda and Body Electric, but probably a moan too far – bung them on a 12″ with Damage Done.
For those interested, this is an excellent recent article on the girls’ annus mirabilis of 1983, with contributions from three of them. No prizes for guessing who doesn’t contribute*
http://thequietus.com/articles/23082-sisters-of-mercy-interview-wayne-hussey-craig-adams-gary-marx
*not Doktor Avalanche
I’ve still got the 12″ EPs of the stuff that’s covered here and they still sound good, or as good as I guess they’re going to sound, considering the budget they had at the time. 80s indie EPs were 180g before this was coveted.
I agree with the Kid regarding the packaging, putting them in 12″ singles would have been smarter, along with Body Electric and Damage Done 7″s.
Anyone wanting an entry into the Sisters can of course just buy all their stuff as one of those Original Album Series box sets.
It doesn’t seem right to have a Sisters review without a contribution from Brother Blast, who was the ultimate arbiter of all things related to SoM.
Just what I was thinking, Carl.
My thoughts too, beating me to it. I shall wear my memorial T in his memory today.