Collections

[Strangecross]

I've been continuously listening to Dagda Mor - The Border of the Light finding it to be perfect atmosphere always transporting me to a very good feeling of walking around a lake, got me thinking of a topic. (The full dagda mor tapes don't hit as hard)

Seems like in noise there maybe a bit of an aversion to 'collections'
- a completists attitude favoring box sets and rarities
- being against the idea of having 'greatest hits' opposing pop musicality

But I find myself favoring this kind of curation. Especially when it is done long after the music was made such as a new Die Sonne Satans compendium on Tribe tapes, and the former one being another great example of this
As well as off top of my head
Cock esp greatest dicks, such a good harsh listen
And
Merzbow sampler, where disjointed feeling can be more pleasurably psychedelic than a full album that may be tiring

So I'd like to know what are your opinions on this

And what are some great collections?

[k.p.g]

So I'd like to know what are your opinions on this

If curated right, a compilation in noise can be just as if not more revered than the pieces that make up said comp.  It takes some really good material, but it is possible.

And what are some great collections?

The Cherry Point - Night of the Bloody Tapes (Troniks)
John Wiese - Soft Punk (Troubleman Unlimited)
Perfected Grave Vault - Mutative Forecast (Oxen)
Wolf Eyes & John Wiese - Collection (Troniks/Hanson)

[FreakAnimalFinland]

There are number of releases that are sort of compilations, but I don't usually even think them that way. Easy example Merzbow Metalvelodrome 4xCD. Putrefier 4xCD box. M.O. Five Years Of Slaughters LP, Kraang LP's, Satori "Infect", above mentioned Dagda Mor. Countless more.

Also question when compilation is "acceptable" and when its sort of sampler? Let's say Con-Dom "Prince of our disorder" 3"+tape. Tape is compilation of live material, but since these were never released in full it is quite different from making best of -collection of formerly released material.

Not fan of edited or butchered albums. Think for example putting out Club Moral LP and removing nazis of the night from LP.. wtf? Even if its for legal reasons, would appear better to then leave reissue to labels who can do it properly.

I do prefer full release of original tapes as opposed to best of, but in some cases latter is fine.

[Baglady]

For me it depends on the artist whether it works or not. But I'm definitely positive overall.

My favorite artist "best of/greatest hits" is ERIC LUNDE - When You Wish Upon A Scar CD on Povertech from the early nineties. It has tracks from rare tapes as well as from more widely available releases (the split w/ Hands To for example) from '83 to '91. The full works are superb, obviously, but these early tracks just go so well together, despite being culled from manyreleases over several years. And the beautiful booklet! Perfect summary of Lunde's world and sound up to that point.

[BlackCavendish]

I think it depends on the compilation and on how carefully it is assembled.
When it's just some sort of best-of from a specific band—maybe with only the most famous tracks (something that can happen with bigger bands; TG has at least one such release)—it feels pretty pointless to me.

If they're well done, compilations can easily stand the test of time, and I often end up thinking of them as proper albums.
You mentioned Die Sonne Satan: I remember the first album I heard from them was "Achive Compendium", which was a compilation, but I still think of it as a proper album. The feeling was consistent throughout the whole record, with no "best-of effect".

The same can be true for live albums. For example, Anenzephalia's live album on Death Factory is so good that I think of it as a studio record.

[Strangecross]

Gelsomina - Pythogenetics - a good one that can make me feel content about not needing to try to get more of his works because it is just such a hefty dose

It certainly does not do the thing where the flow of it makes it feel like an album in it's own right, but just gives so much of what you want

[Balor/SS1535]

Whitehouse's The Sound of Being Alive is a collection, and it has everything I could ever want from that band---and then some.  That comp + live recordings, that is.

[Phenol]

I like collections. Some of my favourite releases are collections: Anenzephalia - Instrumentalities and Lille Roger - Golden Shower are the first that come to mind.

[Stipsi]

Gelsomina - Pythogenetics - a good one that can make me feel content about not needing to try to get more of his works because it is just such a hefty dose

It certainly does not do the thing where the flow of it makes it feel like an album in it's own right, but just gives so much of what you want

Good call!

[Cranial Blast]

Whitehouse's The Sound of Being Alive is a collection, and it has everything I could ever want from that band---and then some.  That comp + live recordings, that is.

Agreed. That's a good comp of their later recordings. Includes a lot of the best material from that era.