Heaven 17: The Luxury Gap (Arista)
James Hunter, The Boston Phoenix, 9 August 1983
DISCRIMINATING rock-and-roll fans in this country can finally tone down their horrified wails about white British dance bands' ubiquitous, maddening, mosquito-whine electroboogie. Pride in shallowness remains the defining trait of these by-synths-possessed, but here and there performers are forsaking Soft Cell for brain cells: Thomas Dolby deploys pithy rhythm wit, ABC manage light-touch hedonism, Flock of Seagulls cast a battery of hooks, and Culture Club introduce a winning pair of singles.
Total word count of piece: 665
