Now that's what I call brass! - Volume 2

Volume 2: 2003- 2004
Various Artists
World of Brass Recordings: WOB 106 CD
Total Playing Time: 76.04

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Do you remember those K-Tel records in the mid 1970s that used to be released each year billed as 'Top of the Pops Volume 26 - the hits of 1975' etc? They were the cleverest way record producers could think of getting spotty teenagers to part with their hard earned paper round money to buy a LP of songs that they already forked out on when the original tracks appeared as singles 8 months before.

It was helped by the fact that the cover always (and we mean always) sported a busty young lass in an overtight tee shirt and skimpy hotpants with the slogan of "over an hour of fun" usually emblazoned somewhere on the cover. It was a brilliant marketing ploy, and hundreds (although it could only be this reviewer recalling it) of parka clad youths with raging hormones surging through their veins used to spend what little money they had left in their pockets after a trip to the Saturday morning pictures and a trip to see Cardiff City at Ninian Park, adding them in yearly numerical order to they burgeoning record collections.

Although 'Now that's what I call brass!' isn't quite like those vinyl glories of yesteryear, it is in many ways a direct descendent - and a popular and clever idea it remains too.

This is the second of the series - the first appeared last year, and this year the team from SP&S Ltd have made a varied and cosmopolitan selection of the greatest "hits" from their huge catalogue of releases during the past 12 months; and it would have been possible to select enough material for a second or even third volume to satisfy the demands of everyone.  In the circumstances though it is a pretty good choice of 22 tracks, with clever and at times inspired selections to keep people happy and even promoting the odd argument or two over a festive eggnog on Boxing Day. 

There really is something for everyone here; the major releases are covered with Grimethorpe's fine account of 'The Present Age'; Sola Brass with a brave and at times thrilling attempt to overcome the difficulties of the Errol Flynn inspired, 'Chivalry' and Grimethorpe again enjoying themselves to the full in the multi coloured kaleidoscope of fun that is Gilbert Vinter's truly great 'Spectrum' - a timely reminder that Vinter's music is in need of a urgent reappraisal. 

The mischievous choice perhaps is Buy As You View Bands 'St. Magnus' - the performance that saw them bring the house down in Glasgow (and released on the European double CD) but which also saw them fail to move the three judges one iota into the bargain. You are left just scratching your head to why they didn't quite like it: Brass band contest adjudication can be a fickle maiden indeed.

The eventual 2004 European Champions are not forgotten though, with some wonderful items from the Yorkshire Building Society under the direction of Professor David King. Their Gala Concert contribution was a display of immense brilliance (remember they had just performed a hour or so before the quite breathtaking and lip bursting, 'Music of the Spheres') and they still had enough in the tank to wow the packed hall with 'Dundonnell' at the end of a very long day for them. In addition, Peter Roberts is just Peter Roberts with a bravura performance of 'On with the Motley' from his 'Legend' CD release, which really did live up to the name didn't it?

The brass band movement is blessed at the moment with having two of perhaps the greatest ever cornet players ever to put instrument to lip in the shape of David Daws and Roger Webster. Both remind you of their truly unique talents with selections from their solo CD releases - both are breathtaking, but it does gives you the chance to compare and contrast and to make your own mind up to who you think is currently the best in the business.  

The enjoyment factor though is kept to a maximum on this release with some neat inclusions from bands who don't usually feature as highly as possibly they deserve to throughout the year. Flowers put a smile on the face with their 'Muppet Show Theme' from the 2003 Brass in Concert Contest, whilst Whitburn produce two contrasting yet top notch efforts from their well received CD release, 'Reflections of Freedom' in the shape of 'Scherzo' from 'Symphony No. 10' and 'Roses for a Princess'. 

There is plenty more as well, with The Household Troops Band of the Salvation Army and the International Staff Band providing quality items, and soloists of the calibre of David Thornton, David Childs and Philippe Schartz reminding you once more of just how good they are in front of a band with items taken from their individual CD releases of the year.

The heavyweight bands are not forgotten either, with Fairey FP (Music) providing something of a collectors piece with their 'Kenilworth Suite' - a collectors item as it was the last release of the band that had completed the Nationals "Double", and Black Dyke rolling back the years with a romp through the old pot boilers 'Marche Slav' and 'Knight Templar'. The European influence gets a mention to, with Eikanger Bjorsvik Musikklag enjoying themselves to the hilt with 'Tour de Band' - (what a bass section) from their quite excellent CD, 'Art of the States.'

'Now that's what I call brass!' may well be a throwback to those fantastic years when Britain rejoiced in the three day week, Watney's Red Barrel and Robin Friday scoring brilliant goals for Reading (only real football anoraks will remember his particular brand of individual genius), but it is a great idea which still brings out the old teenager in us all (or is that just me).

This is a real multi track taster of what has been a pretty fine year of brass band releases - so get out your hard earned pocket money and invest in either one of the many CDs featured or on this one to add to the "Greatest Hits" collection from last year. There is surely another one to come in 2005.

Iwan Fox

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