Essence 35: Collection 1985-2015 CD

Five CD collection. Formed in 1984 and hailing from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, The Essence signed to UK label Midnight Music in 1985 a year after touring their homeland, and soon after released their debut 12" 'Endless Lakes' and their first full-length LP, Purity. After the favorable reception of their inaugural releases, especially within Europe, this paved the way for a successful 35-year career for the band, covered here in this set. Contains the albums Purity (1985), A Monument of Trust (1987), Ecstasy (1988), Nothing Lasts Forever (1991) and Afterglow (2015), plus all of their singles and the best of their B-sides and alternative versions - all chosen and curated by the band themselves. Widely known for their audible similarities to the Cure - Hans Diener is Robert Smith's vocal twin, and their numbers such as 'A Mirage' and 'The Cat' replicate the Cure's brooding guitar sound perfectly. However, although The Essence didn't become as well known within the States as the Cure, their albums such as Ecstasy and A Monument of Trust ensured the band became cult favorites, particularly amongst the goth rock crowd. Contains full sleeve notes focusing on the career of The Essence by singer and band-leader Hans Diener. Comes in a specially packaged clam-shell boxing, containing beautifully designed disc wallets replicating the original album artworks.

1. The Last Preach 2. A Reflected Dream 3. The Cat 4. The Blind 5. Never Mine 6. Endless Lakes 7. Forever in Death 8. Salvation 9. The Waving Girl 10. Purity 11. From My Mouth 12. The Swaying Wind 13. The Cat (Remix) 14. Confusion 15. The Happiness 16. The Cat (Extended Version) 17. A Mirage 18. Drifting 19. In Tears 20. Nothing 21. The Waves of Death 22. Years of Doubt 23. Fire 24. The Death Cell 25. A Monument of Trust 26. Un Espejismo 27. Tricked 28. Lollipop 29. A Mirage (Extended Version) 30. Un Espejismo (Version Larga) 31. Burned in Heaven 32. Only for You 33. Sleeping 34. Like Christ 35. The Afterworld 36. So Gorgeously 37. Despair 38. Understand Why 39. One More Wasted Night 40. Ice 41. Sleep (Is for Everyone) with Sad Lovers ; Giants 42. A Reflected Dream with Sad Lovers ; Giants 43. Jump and Fall 44. Angelic 45. Time 46. The World Collapsed 47. Only for You (Italian Remix) 48. Separation 49. How You Make Me Hate 50. September 51. Out of Grace 52. Irresistible 53. Everything 54. Never Let Go 55. Air 56. Thirtysecondsong 57. All Is Empty 58. In Your Heart 59. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man 60. Ice (Live) 61. Everything (Remix) 62. U 4 Life 63. Taking on the World 64. Gone 65. Bleed 66. Through the Years 67. The One 68. Crack 69. Right or Wrong 70. Mary My Prayer 71. Up 72. Through the Years (The Things in My Head Mix) 73. A Mirage ('94 Radio Mix) 74. A Mirage (The Sierra Nevada Mix) 75. A Mirage (Trance Mix) 76. Un Espejismo ('94 Mix) 77. Visions of China