The Chameleons UK

This disc is actually the perfect complement to the Peel Sessions collection: not only does it contain two more full radio broadcast sessions of the band from 1983 and 1985, there is zero track duplication with the other collection. Even more happily for hardcore fans of the band, between the two collections one can create an entire alternate version of the What album, replacing that album's textured sheen with an arguably more gripping balance between beauty and wallop, as well as more clearly heard singing from Burgess! As for this disc in and of itself: once again on offer are near live versions of many fine songs performed with energy and passion to burn. The earlier session concentrates understandably on Script material, including a wonderfully tense take on "Monkeyland," with a great nails-on-blackboard guitar intro, and an early "Singing Rule Britannia." The later session, one of the earliest appearances of new touring keyboardist Clegg, splits itself between What tracks, among them a pummeling "Home is Where the Heart Is," and earlier songs, including the early rarity "Nathan's Phase" and two versions of Script's "View from a Hill." While nothing on the disc is vastly different from the various studio recordings of the songs, the sharp live power throughout more than makes this a necessary purchase. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide