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Review: By 1996 Greek synth composer extraordinaire Vangelis - real name Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou - had become such an icon of electronic music not one but two retrospective anthologies arrived around the same time. Not bad considering this was only around halfway through his recording career, and in many ways his work was still in an evolutionary process. Gift was one of those compilations, and focuses attention on the first four records made by this Hellenic legend. Starting out with work from 1975's Heaven & Hell, from which an excerpt of the original (rather longwinded) 'Heaven & Hell Part II' has been lifted, we also get 'So Long Ago, So Clear', the artist's first collaboration with Jon Anderson (the musician-singer-songwriter whose name is credited on several other tracks here), and outstanding outings such as 'Pulstar' and 'Alpha'. A joy from start to finish.

Review: Solos, Sessions & Encores is an impressive overview of Stevie Ray Vaughn's history of collaborations with the world's greatest blues and rock stars. The selection of songs goes further than most compilations by bringing many new long-lost and sought-after tracks to the table, be they be a lost cersion of a 1978 cut with Lou Ann Barton, or the unreleased 'Albert's Shuffle' with Albert Collins. The fresh new retrospective album flaunts Stevie Ray Vaughan's technique and deft, versatile playing style across a wide range of genres and contexts. With many of the cuts adapted from live sessions, the album is also an impressive remaster, unifying Vaughn's sound despite a multitude of recording contexts.

Review: Swiss hard rock and heavy metal band Krokus are one of the outfits with a cult following who worship their every move. As such this Best Of might not be for them but instead serves as a great overview for newly curious fans. Stayed Awake All Night / The Best Of Krokus compiles their greatest hits and most lively rock riffs from tunes they made between 1982 and 1986 and it originally came in 1989. It shows them to be a band who know how to write a hook and thrash out a rhythm and sits them up there alongside the likes of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden.

Review: Christopher O'Riley Plays Radiohead is an album that is now 20 years old and so gets a special anniversary release to mark the occasion. It comes in limited quantities via Music on Vinyl on crystal clear vinyl. All of the indie giants' best known moments are tackled by O'Riley in fine style as he brings new drama and melancholy to tracks like 'Everything In Its Right Place' and 'Subterranean Homesick Alien.' These remain largely fairly faithful to the original arrangements but ebb and flow in new ways because of being played don piano and will appeal to fans of Radiohead as well as those who might not have liked the originals.