Best of Art of Noise

by The Art of Noise

Product Description:

Art Of Noise: Anne Dudley, J.J. Jeczalik.

Additional personnel: Tom Jones (vocals); Duane Eddy (guitar).

It's a bit confusing, but this pink-covered BEST OF THE ART OF NOISE is not the same collection as the earlier BEST OF THE ART OF NOISE, which sports a blue cover. Unlike the previous BEST OF, this compilation features the African folk-via-techno of "Yebo," the clubby "Instruments of Darkness," and the lilting ambient ballad "Robinson Crusoe."

This disc leads off with the wonderful Dadaist voice collage of "Opus," and includes the group's version of Henry Mancini's "Peter Gunn" (featuring Duane Eddy on guitar) and "Paranoimia" (featuring the voice of 1980s TV icon Max Headroom). Other commercial hits are presented, particularly "Dragnet" (the theme song to the 1988 film remake of the popular TV show) and a reassembling of Prince's "Kiss," complete with bawdy vocals from Tom Jones. Although little of the group's early work appears, there is plenty of cut-and-paste fun to be had here with one of the '80s most intriguing and versatile studio outfits.