The first disc's compilation appearances and demo material is interesting, if spare. And the record ends with your typical selection of remixes. But even these do not annoy like they might. I'm tempted to mark down anything with that seems technofied. But I have to applaud one, if only for cleverness. That would be the dance remix of -The Sea Angler- from -Annwyn Beneath the Waves-, if only because that particular song, out of all of Faith and the Muse's repertoire, seemed to me to resist that kind of treatment. Not only does it work; but the remix also contains faint Hendrix allusions that are quite apt for the material.

This may not be the best introduction to Faith and the Muse; -Annwyn- or -Evidence of Heaven- would be that; but if you like this band, you want this record.


Essential Faith & the Muse   December 7, 2001
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I was first skeptical about this album. After all, most of the songs are already contained in the previous three Faith & the Muse albums.
However, getting this CD was a pleasant surprise. The artcover is fine, the songs are nice (which is much to say compared to the previous Evidence of Heaven album). The material contained here is serious stuff for the Faith & the Muse follower: live tracks, superb remixes (like Rea's Obssesion's Elyria) and previously unreleased tracks. Plus, it contains songs that were only available through compilations, like Winter Wassail and Frague Ave Atqe Vale. This CD just confirms why F&M manages to appeal to a very wide and diverse audience. Keep producing more of this!


A hard-core fan's dream   October 24, 2001
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

"Vera Causa" isn't the standard retrospective; the 2 CDs aren't filled with all the songs you've already heard 50 times, followed by the requisite Rosetta Stone remix. This album is an awesome collection of rarities, covers, live cuts and remixes. This collection does give you an accurate portrait of the band's sound, but you're nuts if you don't go out and get their other releases.

If you haven't listened to Faith and The Muse before: The best I can convey their sound is Myth-Rock Romantique. That may be way off the mark, but I haven't eaten in four hours. From their 1994 debut "Elyria," right on through to "Evidence of Heaven," they've always melded styles as varied as film-score romanticism, celtic rock, 80s power pop and 90s darkwave. The lyrics are always intelligent (I defy you to catch 'em cussin' once), Monica and William are both gifted singers, and their albums always have the coolest art/packaging courtesy of Monica.

Disc 1, "Night," is a jackpot of compilation tracks, covers and demo cuts. If you're a devotee of the band, it's that much more fun to hear the development of their trademark sound. Their cover of "Romeo's Distress" is a nice tip of the hat to the late great Rozz Williams.

Disc 2, "Morning," is a selection of live tracks and remixes. If the US military played "Cantus" for our soldiers, we'd have the whole Bin Laden thing taken care of in about 43 minutes. Of course the live stuff is great, since the band can all play their instruments. Monica and William have stage voices as good as their studio ones. I'm not partial to remixes, but these versions prove that if you start with something good, you can end with something good.

"Vera Causa" does what the best "collection" CDs do: If you like the band, you'll love the new depth and perspective these songs provide. If you're new to it, you'll get neck-deep in it pretty quick. Faith and The Muse make addictive music, and I am gleefully hooked. If you get a chance to see them live, DO IT.