The follow-up to Half Mute was seen by most critics as the lesser of the two albums. But while the group does go over familiar territory, the results aren't bad. There is more of a leaning towards pop in tracks such as "Jinx" and the most excellent "Incubus (Blue Suit)" which, surprisingly, hasn't turned up on many new wave compilations; full of catchy synth lines by way of
Vangelis/
Kraftwerk, assaultive guitars, and "serious" lyrics, it's all here. Regrettably, the saxophone is mostly absent from this recording. Comparisons to Half Mute only point out what has been lost. (The sax does poke its nose in on the tail end of the epic title track.) A parody of "Holiday for Strings" ("Holiday for Plywood") ends the album. The CD reissue adds tracks from the earlier No Tears EP and rearranges the track order. ~ Ted Mills