As even Hiseman would admit, Colosseum II bore little resemblance to its noble predecessor. Gone are those muscular brass parts, the Pete Brown songs, Heckstall-Smith's soul. Instead we’re in a post-Mahavishnu, jazz-rock phase, mixed with pompous rock centred on Starrs’ curlicued vocals. Airey does a fine Jan Hammer impersonation, and he and Hiseman fill the space with endless business, though to what end one's never sure. The tyro Moore tries to echo McLaughlin, even down to the acoustic tones of ‘Down To You’. But Moore was never at ease in a jazz-like mode, and he's always happier with his Clapton or Greeny licks. The second CD of this curious compilation drops most of the vocals, with Starrs now absent, while the sound is tighter, even a shade grungier, but the writing was already on the wall, or rather the graffiti, as the media were about to fall in love with punk, and consign the likes of Colosseum II to history. And here's the reissue to prove it.