Volume, Contrast, Brilliance: Unreleased & Rare, Vol. 2

Photographers: Mike Slocombe; Nick Wesolowski; Nick White; Lester Square; Marian Palmer; Steve Mace ; Dave Harper .Odds-and-sods collections from cult acts are almost always a necessary pick-up for fans, and while the Monochrome Set already have a couple in their discography -- some released back in their days on El Records -- few have been as necessary as this one. Coming years and years after 1983's Volume, Contrast, Brilliance: Vol. 1 -- which featured "Singles and Session" -- Vol. 2 dives deep into the archives and offers everything from a session recorded before their debut single, "He's Frank," to alternate recordings of songs that would end up on 1991's album Jack. There are plenty of years left over for a Vol. 3, but raw versions of classics like "Whoops! What a Palaver" and "Reach for Your Gun" should tide fans over until it appears. Sound quality varies, but the Jack tracks are stunningly, fully formed and burst out of the speakers like a snarky psychedelic kaleidoscope. Grea