Heaven 17 – Endless

2x vinyl re-release - maybe ?? Word word word word

A strange compilation which doesn't follow the usual "chart number" formula. This doesn't contain singles "Play To Win" (No 46 in the UK), or the excellent "Come Live With Me" (No 5), but does include "Counterforce" which was a b-side of "Sunset Now" (No 24), and "...Megamix", which was originally on a DMC "Members Only" compilation release, before appearing as a b-side of one version of "...(and that's no lie), which only reached No 52 in the UK charts. Both "I'm Your Money" and "We Live So Fast", didn't even chart. Maybe the band members just picked their own favourite tracks, "I'm Your Money" in particular, being a big fan favourite. But this in no way detracts from just how good a compilation "Endless" is, especially as most of the singles on there are 12" versions, some of which change hands for decent sums secondhand. And, of course, CD is the perfect medium for electronic music.

Picked this one up from a 1 euro bin at a cd fair, knowing only Temptation actually....which I loved from when I heard it back in the day. It's playing right now and I must say I'm quite surprised by the rest of the material too. Not sure why I never heard more, but I guess Temptation really was their only hit over here. Anyway, fine buy for a lousy 1 euro.

By comparison to later compilations, "Endless" is without doubt the most consistent and representative of Heaven 17´s finest work. In 1986 the group also released "Pleasure One", a then-new album which only pointed out further in what direction the group were heading, replacing electronics with their white-boy soul-funk pretensions. "Endless" seems like a farewell to their early catalogue, at the time deservedly entering its anthological 80s phase. And while even at a later date the group managed to improve on some level at least, their ambitious appetite turned Heaven 17 into a washed down version of themselves, lost between pop, rock and electronics´ ins and outs.

Of course, the inevitable brainwash constant for the dancefloor remains comprised in their best-known track - "Temptation". Just like "Tainted Love", "Fade To Grey" or "Just Can´t Get Enough" to name a few, "Temptation" forms part to the inevitable 80s´ hitlist besides which anything else seems not to stand a chance against... But there´s loads of hits here that deserve equal (if not greater) listeners´ attention. Ok, "Fascist Groove Thang" and "Let Me Go" always pass for a second (read: much better) dancefloor choice, than that of "Temptation" (despite the fact "Temptation" is and always will remain a deserved classic) - but it is the "Megamix", Potoker/s excellent up-to-date remix of "Penthouse and Pavement" and especially "Let´s All Make a Bomb (New Version)" that among the continuous playlist of slightly remixed/altered tracks, stand among this compilation´s best shots. Most of the songs are symbolically culled from 12" releases and sound way better than original album tracks - let alone an altogether remixed "Crushed By the Wheels Of Industry" (almost a TAGC track with a pop twist, giving Heaven 17´s experimental side far more breathing space) or the gorgeous two closing numbers - a stunning version of "And That´s No Lie", which in a way is a nice reminder of Kraftwerk´s "Radioactivity", and the optimistically embraced melancholy that is "Sunset Now" (practically reduced of entire verses, but still keeping the song´s essence to make it sound as a whole - in both, the song and the album terms).

So, if you´re looking for a proper introduction to Heaven 17, this is the ultimate choice to dive your ears into - although stripped down of the (eventually expected) 7" singles revue appeal (of the lot, "Fascist Groove Thang" is the only survivor in that respect), it´s a perfect preview of the group´s then still-experimental leanings within a pop-context. A clever decision by the group over a collection of remakes which stand on their own unique two feet in order to tease the listener wondering about these songs´original whereabouts.

Penthouse & Pavement is a unique John Potoker remix, and the version of Let Me Go has a unique extended intro.

Collectors may want to consider the limited cassette box set as this contains 16 tracks as opposed to the 12 on the CD.
I am surprised that the CD release was not produced in such a way as to get all the tracks on and to make a nice job with the packaging as was done with the cassette box.