Fiftieth anniversary celebrations are not always a thrilling occasion to celebrate the best of a band’s work. If nothing is prepared in time, it’s off to the compilation albums and quiet successes. Electric Light Orchestra fans are short-changed time and again. A sincere lack of depth to the remasters and re-releases, but at least those are opportunities to hear a solid touch-up of the sound. Vocoder, then, a seven-song compilation celebrating fifty years of the band, dumped on Spotify and forgotten about by everyone, including the band, is embarrassing. When other artists like Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd are sharing the riches of their archives, it seems strange ELO are not offering the same. What lies behind the steel door of an impenetrable, spaceship-shaped vault is likely never to be revealed. We are instead stuck with Vocoder, miserably short-sighted and cheap-looking packages to cash in on an anniversary.
Even fans at the time were disappointed with this one, if the announcement post on the band’s Facebook page is to be believed. That dormant social media platform is a hive of upset fans, wondering where the special CDs and vinyl re-releases are. Vocoder being a celebration of seven songs, one of which is an inferior, sluggish version of a classic, is fascinating. This version of Mr. Blue Sky is still listenable, the choppiest of quality could still be enjoyed. But this is a far cry from the quality of the original or remastered versions elsewhere. Vocoder makes out-there choices more for the sake of it than any other reason. These are not active changes made to benefit the listener, but a chance to throw together some recognisable material, peddle it to fans, and tick over the streaming numbers for a cheap increase in listening figures. It’s a game most artists are now playing, be it with vinyl variants or excessive re-releases. ELO opted for the latter and has never looked back.
Seven songs, then, and the opening track is an inferior version of the one which should have been included. You could choose from more than seven songs in ELO’s discography which feature a vocoder. That appears to be the entry requirements for Vocoder, which also features Confusion and Sweet Talkin’ Woman. Inevitabilities. No differences to these versions as there is for Mr. Blue Sky, which just feels out of place considering nothing else has changed. Still, for those who are stumbling onto Vocoder as a chance to hear ELO for the first time, well, it’s quite the experience. Yours Truly, 2095, and Rain is Falling are bold inclusions. Both great songs, but they feel a bit out of place in the usual standard of hits-laden compilations, however brief they may be.
Once more, the purpose of compiled works is lost because people can make their own through playlists. A physically released compilation at least has the interest of being tailor-made by the artist. It is an opportunity for their favourites, or at least the team managing their work, to share unique choices. But it still has the shortcomings of a digital-only release, which is what Vocoder is. A baffling chance to share with audiences some material from the archives or alternative versions is, in fact, a shoddy release. There is no celebration to be found here. It’s hard to see anything within this as a chance to revisit the highs of ELO’s work. When Dylan has consistent compilations of unheard studio material, and the Pink Floyd releases of late have been nothing but quality remasters, a piece like Vocoder looks embarrassing in contrast. A dreadful release, and it doesn’t look like the band’s backlog of material will be handled with care anytime soon.
