Montserrat Figueras (soprano), Jordi Savall (treble & bass viols), Sergi Casademunt (tenor viol), Paolo Pandolfo (bass viol), Lorenzo Alpert (recorder, dulcian, percussion), Bruce Dickey (cornet), Charles Toet (tenor trombone), Harry Ries (tenor trombone), Robert Clancy (vihuela, guitar), Antonio Barbera (percussion)

During his extraordinary 25 year career, multi-instrumentalist Chris Spheeris has created spiritually enriching music that swings from the seductively romantic to the exotic, global and experimental. Featuring 15 classic pieces, 'The Best of Chris Spheeris: 1990-2000' is an exciting retrospective of his unique and eclectic musical achievements.

''Tin Drum'' is the most groundbreaking album of Japan's carrer, which is indeed full of highlights (the exception being maybe a little misstep with still good ''Obscure Alternatives''). The last in their string of excellent albums, ''Tin Drum'' is one of the most solid records of its time, which it was undeniably ahead of. The band came to its peak by developing a very own, unmistakable sound that couldn't be seriously compared to anything else done in the same period. Besides, its accomplishments include the succesfull, genuine marriage of asian elements with an european pop-rock soul that justify the band's name and seems to build a meaningfull conclusion of the group's legacy. The tunes here are delightfull. ''Cantonese Boy'' must be one of their best singles ever; ''The Art Of Parties'' incorporates the spirit of the whole record with its amazing drums and surreal tempo; ''Ghosts'' is an excellent ballad, and all the songs would deserve nice remarks in this and any other review. Sylvian's weird voice reached its emotional peak here as well, and comparisions to Bryan Ferry are mostly dull, since the usage both did of their not that differently sounding voices didn't lead to similar results.