When I originally bought the CD of this compilation in 2001, I hadn't really heard any of Fad Gadget's music. I think my interest must have purely stemmed from their links to Mute records and Daniel Miller.
However when I did listen to the CD, I liked a lot of what I heard and I decided to buy this silver coloured vinyl pressing when it was released in 2019.
This album is something of a strange pot-pourri of post punk noise, new wave innovation and unrefined synth-pop. Tracks flow in a roughly chronological order and Daniel Miller's familiar ARP 2600 drum sounds punch through some of the early cuts. Other influences are exposed by the extended "Handshake" which serves as the "Metal on Metal" to the "Trans Europe Express" of "Ricky's Hand".
As the band's sound began to diversify we find an increasing use of acoustic or traditional rock instruments and its impossible not to notice Alison Moyet singing backing vocals on "For Whom The Bells Toll". There is prominent use of bass guitar on songs like "Make Room" and "King of the Flies" meaning synth purest have to
take refuge in b-sides such as the excellent "Ladyshave" and "4M". The inclusion of the outstanding "Luxury" is curious as it was released under Frank Tovey's own name when he elected to leave the Fad Gadget moniker behind.
In terms of electronic music, Frank eventually moved on and by the time he was releasing "Bridge St Shuffle" and "Sam Hall" there was no way back. Frank seemed to stop releasing records in the late eighties and this compilation serves as an excellent summary of his work in the field of electronic music. 3/5
