This album harkens hack to 1978 and as such is encapsulated in a bubble of energetic chron/o/ptimism which would simply be impossible to recapture in this day & age. Punk must have sunk it's teeth into the antipodes around this period, and the raw energy & drive shows through in a SAINTS sort of hybrid sound which nods towards the more arty creativity of WIRE and MAGAZINE while being unique beyond them. That this sound later moved into the even more unique, wild & crazy BIRTHDAY PARTY is surprising in the least - there's hardly a hint at such blasting excesses "The Nightwatchman" is a fast, hooky thins with a thin little riff & words which seem to drill their way into your mind with a shiny cut-diamond tip. "Brave Exhibitions" use of sax hints at a MAGAZINE-like approach riding along on a fast piece of music which seems to etch it's image on the cortex by a contrast of sounds. "Friends Of My World" is slower Rocky piece which reminds me strangely enough of THIN LIZZY, especially vocally & possibly lyrically. "The Voice" has a tempo which fixes it's mind on some none-too-distant goal. using quite a hooky track as it's vessel, and some interesting guitar & sax, and some soothing keyboard. Hero CAVE' s voice had a strength which later became so much more, but is still distinct. "Roman Roman" is a faster, Punk- hearted sub-thrash-out novelty track, much in the vein of early SKIDS. "Somebody's Watching" is one of the more instantly addictive distinct tracks on this album - a high-propane Punk speed piece, filling it's energetic form with tons of musical tricks & turns. "After A Fashion" also surreptitiously works it's slower, slightly darker. dustier way into the memory, with the voice paramount to the resultant effect, but guitar, wire-thin like a flesh-caressing cord, whips some interesting motifs into the music. "Dive Position" returns to MAGAZINE territory with a fairground piano sequence. NICK's voice almost yodels the chorus in it's almost- hysterical way. "I Mistake Myself" is a slower, darkish little thing which skulks around in dusty corners, only seeing cold daylight though slitted beams of guitar. "Shivers" is perhaps the best track on this album (although this depends on taste). It should be familiar with those who bought the "Tyranny Of The Beat" album - a sad little piece built on almost minimal music, conparable to WIRE around the period they began to experiment with Morse-like patterns. A tale of the down side of an awkward love & one you find yourself singing along to. Previously released on Australia's MUSHROOM RECORDS - hang on. . . isn't that KYLIE & JASON's label....... Originally reviewed for Soft Watch.

Can someone please check the cat#, because my vinyl shows L 19227 and not L 36931.I´m not sure if mine is a different release or if this declaration is faulty.One additional note: on my sleeve there is a small sticker "special festival export".