Soft Cell: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret (Sire)
Jim Farber, Creem, April 1982
WOW — A TRENDY electronic dance band that isn't awful! In fact, they're pretty good. Most of these not-so-new-fangled computerized groups sound just fab in the clubs where the DJs only play their catchiest singles, greatly enhanced by the sound system. But once you get 'em home and slap on the whole LP it's as dreary as a group grope between Atari Space Invaders games and Intellivision. What's lacking in designer robot bands like Depeche Mode, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, the latest Kraftwerk or even the less synthetic DOR kooties like Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet (besides consistently hot material) is something the ancients used to call "personality."
Total word count of piece: 629