Analysis. The second disc of this set opens with material familiar to the band's existing fan base, but assembled in a different manner, the tracks making up the Afterlife Sequence from Po90D's 1997 album "Afterlifecycle" put together as one single track lasting for 28 minutes. A truly epic exploration, incorporating all the different musical varieties explored by this band at that point in time, with lush, ambient segments, jazz-tinged explorations as well as hard-hitting and heavy ventures with trips into space-rock territories included. The much shorter Embalmed in Acid follows, a composition exploring the modern/alternative aspect of the band’s output. It's an intriguing affair, a perfect companion to the prior exploration and in my view one of the most compelling songs on this compilation overall, more or less a ballad with strong atmosphere spiced up with quirky keyboard layers, a few harder hitting guitar-driven segments and innovative details in the instrument as well as vocal department. The three songs following are all previously unreleased efforts. The first of these, Four Egos One War, is the least interesting of those. Partially because this particular track later was recorded and released by The Tangent, but also because it seems slightly underdeveloped in this version. Not that it's a bad track by any means; but it fails to truly engage me, despite many different sounds explored and several segments that were highly intriguing individually. Fadge-I is a brief escapade similar to the heavier side of the band's modern alternative sound; a high intensity track with dampened, distorted guitars, floating synths and treated vocals that reminds me quite a lot of the heavier side of Porcupine Tree in mood and atmosphere; combining mainstream qualities with a few neat, innovative tricks and a high energy mood. The last of these previously unreleased songs, made for the planned but never finished album "A Kick in the Teeth of Civic Pride", seems to have been planned as a sort of a title cut for that recording, at least the name A Kick in the Teeth indicates that. This creation is a really adventurous affair, arguably the most innovative composition on this 2 CD set. Lush, ambient moods are paired off with harsh, aggressive segments with some detours into space rock territories, with careful use of dissonant elements and some quite quirky riff structures in the harder hitting moments both providing details and effects particular for this composition. Unforgiving Skies from the "Time Capsule" production gets the honor of being the last track out on this compilation, disregarding the 5 or so minutes of unnamed music following this song of course. On this occasion, psychedelic and space rock elements are paired with quirky arrangements and experimental details, although not to the extent of the previous track. The second CD in this set seems to be directed towards the band's established fan base, as this part of the collection mostly consists of unreleased material and rearranged previously released material, while the two tracks pulled directly from Po90D's back catalog seem to be generally more elaborate than the compositions assembled on the first CD. Personally I find this latter part of the compilation far more rewarding in general too; the songs are generally more innovative, creative and complex, and the moods and atmospheres explored have a higher degree of nerve, tension and emotion.

Conclusion. Very much a production consisting of two parts, the first CD in this set is a good introduction to PO90D as a band, covering most of the width and scope of their output, with a slight focus on songs with mainstream appeal. The second CD in the set contains material more of interest to existing fans of the act, assembling songs more experimental in general sound with previously unreleased material. Overall this compilation offers excellent value for money. Both CDs are filled to the brim with music and even if some of the compositions may not appeal as much as others, most buyers should find plenty of songs here to their liking - as long as they appreciate the general style explored on this 2 CD set. Overall, this is probably a perfect way to get acquainted with the band, and with enough goodies to be of interest also to their existing fan base.