When
Kevin Godley and
Lol Creme left
10cc in 1976 to pursue a solo career, many thought it was the death knell for the group. However,
Eric Stewart and
Graham Gouldman kept the group alive as a duo (with the assistance of percussionist
Paul Burgess) and turned in a surprisingly solid album with 1977's
Deceptive Bends. It may lack the devil-may-care wackiness that popped up on previous
10cc albums, but it makes up for it by crafting a series of lush, catchy pop songs that are witty in their own right.
Deceptive Bends also produced a pair of notable hits for the group: "Good Morning Judge" told the comical tale of a career criminal over a hook-laden, surprisingly funky pop backing while "The Things We Do for Love" was an irresistible
Beatles pastiche that showcased
10cc's mastery of pop vocal harmonies. "People in Love," a surprisingly straightforward ballad built on a gorgeous string arrangement, also became a modest chart success. The remainder of the material doesn't stand out as sharply as these hits, but each of the tracks offers up plenty of naggingly catchy pop hooks, oodles of catchy riffs, and surprising twists in their arrangements. Highlights among the non-hit tracks include "Marriage Bureau Rendezvous," a satire of dating services set to a lilting soft rock melody, and "You've Got a Cold," a portrait of illness-influenced misery set to a percolating pop melody. The only place where
Deceptive Bends slips is on "Feel the Benefit," the lengthy medley that closes the album. Its excessive length and hazy lyrics make it less satisfying than the album's shorter tunes, but it is kept afloat by a catchy, mock-Spanish midsection and some lovely string arrangements. All in all,
Deceptive Bends is the finest achievement of
10cc's post-
Godley and
Creme lineup and well worth a spin for anyone who enjoyed
Sheet Music or
The Original Soundtrack. ~ Donald A. Guarisco