Band : Qntal
Album title : Purpurea – The Best Of Qntal
Label : Drakkar Entertainment
Distributor : Suburban  - Bertus
Release date : 31/10/2008
Release : Double (compillation) CD

You know something? When I made my first acquaintance with this threepiece German Electro Midieval act on the occasiona of the release of their 2006 album V – Silver Swan, I immedially fell in love with their music, and ran out to the record store to acquire each and every album I could lay my hands on. In fact, I even bought the 2004 Illuminate, a compilation of non-album tracks and alternate mixes the band had brought for club purposes. More even…although I was getting promo copies of the new stuff, I felt compelled to buy retail copies of that as well!

So, upon receipt of the promo of this “Best Of” double album, my first though was, “Boys…what’s the use of this?”…but then I checked out the track-list, and guess what? While disc one displays a set of 14 songs with a total of 71 minutes playing time, mostly just taken off the regular albums…the non-album track & single “Nihil” (which also appeared the Illuminate compilation) being the only exception…disc two indeed has a quite a few new remix versions and non-album tracks, starting with a “Darker Shape Mix” of The Silver Swan’s “292”. “Levis” off same album, gets a “Half Light Mix” (darkness apparently being a theme here). From Translucida, “La Froidor” was given a “Version Noir”, and “Glacies” an “Obscurus Mix” (you see, the darkness theme continues). Goin’ back in time, to the 2005 IV – Ozymandias album, we find the two bonus tracks (“Lasse, Grand Doucor” & “Rose In The Mor”) added to the original track-list with the 2007 re-issue (or was it simeply a re-print, with only two years in between?) of the album…and a “Candidus Mix” of the regular album’s “Noit Et Dia”. From the 2003 III – Tristan und Isolde album, there’s also the “Novis Mix” of “Ecce Gratum”.Next up are a couple of non-album tracks (“Unmaere” and “Rot”), and..even more misteriouusly…remixes of songs I haven’t found on any of the albums (a “Filthy Floor Mix” of “Veni”, and a “Version Blau” of “Slahte Wille”). The only deviation to the “non-album” or “remix” theme of the almost 74-minute, 13-track second disc comes with the track “Ludus” off Translucida.

When push comes to shove…is this double compilation worth buying? Hell yeah! Mainly for the second disc, of course, but it’s worth buying for that alone indeed! In fact, expect me at the record store as soon as possible! Compilation, so no rating, but you betcha this nice little collectible is gonna be featured in my year-lists, right?

Tony.