Latin Quarter - Nothing Like Velvet (1990)

With three studio albums to its credit and a bona fide hit with "Radio Africa" (from Latin Quarter's debut album, Modern Times), this politically minded worldly pop band decided to call it quits, leaving behind this compilation of oddities, rarities, unreleased demos, and re-recordings. For those looking for the hit, "Radio Africa" (album version) is here in all its splendor, but most of the remaining tracks are exclusive to this release. The ones that have been released elsewhere include the beautiful "The Colourscheme" (sung by Yona Dunsford), which was a B-side, and "The New Millionaires," which is the same version as the one on their debut. Other songs from the debut ("Truth About John," "America for Beginners," "Toulouse") are either in demo form or re-recordings, all equal to the passionate album versions. "See Him!," "Snow Blind," and "The Big Pool" are funky live tracks never released (or recorded?) in studio form. "February 1990," "Pyramid Label," and the title track are demos of songs never officially released. "Dominion" is the German-language version of the "Swimming Against the Stream" album track. There are musical surprises around every corner, almost every one of them from the creative minds of vocalist/guitarist Steve Skaith and lyricist Mike Jones. Packed with so much quality music unavailable elsewhere, this is the perfect introduction to Latin Quarter's eclectic musical repertoire and the perfect rarities disc at the same time. Who woulda thunk it? ~ Steve "Spaz" Schnee, All Music