Camouflage - The Singles (2014)

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Camouflage - The Singles (2014)

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Camouflage is one of my favorite bands of all time. Every album that have made brings a different facet of their songwriting style to light. To mark their 30th anniversary Camouflage did three things: have an anniversary concert complete with an exhibit and cool guest artists, release a boxed set (appropriately named "The Box"), and release this singles collection. What makes this particular collection special is that a few of the songs were never officially released on CD. Plus many of the one that have been released are hard to find. Lets also not forget that they are all remastered in this collection.

I am including a track list since there isn't one provided as of this posting. I will also add any interesting info I have:

01. The Great Commandment (7" Single Version , 3:10) - Never officially released on CD; 02. Stranger's Thoughts (7" Single Version , 3:32); 03. Neighbours (7" Single Version , 3:47); 04. That Smiling Face (7" Single Version , 4:47) - Only released on promotional CDs; 05. Love is a Shield (7" Single Version , 3:59); 06. One Fine Day (7" Single Version , 4:01) - Only released as a 3" CD Single; 07. Heaven (I want you) (7" Single Version , 3:47) - Only released on a promotional CD; 08. This Day (7" Single Version , 3:56) nrs; 09. Suspicious Love (Radio Remix, 4:13); 10. Close (Remix Single Version , 3:59); 11. Jealousy (Single Version , 3:30); 12. Bad News (Single Edit, 3:27); 13. X-Ray (Tranceformer Single Mix, 3:37); 14. Thief (Single Mix, 3:19); 15. The Great Commandment 2.0 (Radio Edit, 3:54); 16. Me And You (Radio Version, 3:29); 17. I Can't Feel You (Radio Edit, 3:48); 18. Motif Sky (Single Version, 3:13); 19. Something Wrong (Single Version, 3:37); 20. The Pleasure Remains (Radio Edit, 4:03) - Previously available only in Poland

Unless otherwise stated assume all of the singles were previously released. I am thinking the 7" singles THIS DAY and JEALOUSY are almost identical to the album versions. SUSPICIOUS LOVE. CLOSE, X-RAY and THIEF are indeed different mixes of the versions found on their respective albums. The rest are just shorter edits of the album releases. That essentially makes The Singles album the most up to date "best of" album for the band. If you are interested in getting to know Camouflage throughout the years this is the best way to sample them.

The singles stretch across all seven albums released so far (an 8th album, Greyscale, is set to be released Feb 2015). The first four tracks are singles from the Voices and Images album and tracks one and two are what I consider the best songs on that album. Tracks five and six are singles from the Methods of Silence album and showcase the hits from that album. Tracks seven and eight are from their more acoustic Meanwhile album and represent the most approachable and upbeat of that album. Tracks 7-11 are from the Bodega Bohemia album with two of those tracks being the bigger hits from the album. Tracks 12 and 13 are based on songs from the Spice Crackers album, and are the songs listed in the previous best of album Rewind. Track 14 is the version of the song prior to it's album release on Sensor. The Great Commandment 2.0 was only released as a single. Tracks 16 and 17 are also from Sensor, and they too represent the hits for that album. Finally the album Motif Sky gets the last three tracks.

Camouflage is essentially an electronic dance band, but has dipped their hand into more experimental and expressive pieces, as well as more acoustic pieces, more times than let on by their club hits. However this album focuses on the dance music, and the styles change from album to album. First you have that 80's industrial dance music similar to Depeche Mode, then more blending of acoustic and electronic sounds for a couple albums, then back to various forms of electronic music. If you are into electronic music this band should be on your list.

All of the songs are remastered. The older tracks get the most benefit from the facelift with the beats being punchier and the instruments standing out more on their own. Once you get to the later albums the differences aren't so noticeable to almost none at all. Still it's worth the remastering for the older tracks alone.

The Singles is a great snapshot of the band, but for a die hard fan like me it's only a small morsel of what they have to offer. While it's the best "best of" you can get right now what with some awesome songs from their last two albums and TGC 2.0 I recommend not stopping there. If you like what you hear I can guarantee there are other songs on each of these albums that will suit your fancy.

Review by SRFireside, Amazon.com

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Camouflage - The Singles (2014)

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Camouflage - The Singles (2014)

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Camouflage - The Singles (2014)

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