After splitting from English pop outfit
10cc in the mid-'70s,
Kevin Godley and
Lol Creme put out a string of eccentric but stylish pop albums that yielded a number of hit singles in Europe. However,
Godley & Creme often got bogged down in self-consciously clever experimentation when making their albums (for example, Consequences began as a two-song single but spiraled into a triple album), and this experimentation could cause the best tracks on these albums to get buried. Thus,
Images is a welcome way to sample the duo's hits as well as the well-crafted pop songs that were often overlooked on their albums. The highlight is the international smash hit "Cry," a lush ballad about heartbreak that puts aside cleverness and sonic trickery to create an accessible song with true emotional power. Other highlights include "An Englishman in New York," a
10cc-styled tune that explores the Big Apple through the eyes of weary and bewildered foreigner, and "My Body the Car," a catchy tune whose rhythmic background track consists entirely of studio-based manipulations of the human voice. "Wide Boy" is another engaging track, a surprisingly hard-rocking putdown of a romantic rival that features some spirited sax playing. Unfortunately,
Images omits a few important tracks despite its generous running time; the most notable omission is "Snack Attack," the group's 1981 hit. Also, the eccentric humor that informs many of tracks may turn off the casual listener ("The Party" is a sarcastic putdown of entertainment-biz gatherings that will either tickle the listener's funny bone or drive them to distraction with its lack of pop hooks), but
Images remains the best way to sample the career of
Godley & Creme. [The 2001 reissue included bonus tracks.] ~ Donald A. Guarisco