**Edition of 300 double CDs and 7" plus 6 offset metallic printed postcards housed in black varnished wooden box with slide close lid** 'This amazing archival collection from Vinyl on Demand brings together 28 tracks of kinetic, dark and unusual French wave and industrial aces by Clair Obscur. Many of them formerly appeared on the 'A Collection Of Isolated Tracks' CD, but this compilation adds 13 previously unpublished gems bundled with the first ever vinyl issue of their 1982 tape, 'La Cassette Noir', and a double CD not included in V-O-D's first, 2007 edition. Handily organised chronologically, the compilation cycles from the spikily rudimentary, skittish coldwave and synthpop of 1981-1982 including the wily drum machines and weaving basslines of 'Nitchevo', on thru the darkly muscular, EBM-tinged sounds of 1983, and the likes of a blistering improvisation to 'The Pilgrim's Progress', taking in more gothic shades between 1983-1984, and lean, driving industrial dance on the final side 1985-1988, finding highlights in the pleading oddness of 'Smurf In The Gulag', the discoid decadence of 'Till The Morning Light' and the rapido jazz-funk flair of 'Can't Wait No More'.

The accompanying 7" dates to their earliest days and a primordial mixture of tonal experiments and driving, skinny wave music - which quite frankly has just completely blown our tiny minds. A proper find once again from Vinyl on Demand - well worthy of your immediate attention if you're into anything from ACR to Joy Division, Throbbing Gristle and beyond... (Boomkat)