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From: mem@sii.UUCP (Mark Mallett)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: China Crisis CD
Message-ID: <392@sii.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 10-May-85 01:56:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: sii.392
Posted: Fri May 10 01:56:33 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 13-May-85 07:13:07 EDT
Organization: Software Innovations, Nashua NH
Lines: 38

I recently bought the China Crisis "Working with Fire and Steel" compact
disc.  I had never heard of this group until last June, when they opened
at a Simple Minds concert in Boston.  (Frankly, I was *much* more impressed
with China Crisis than with Simple Minds, which is why I began collecting
their albums).  China Crisis has 2 LPs by this name, subtitled "possible
pop songs volume one" and "possible pop songs volume two".  Volume one is
an EP (45 RPM 12" album) containing an extended version of the "working
with fire and steel" song from volume 2 (somehow I get the impression that
they numbered the albums backwards) on one side, and 2 excellent instrumental
songs on the other.  I had hoped that the CD version would combine the albums
because these instrumental pieces really appeal to me, which accounts for the
fact that I really did not pay much attention to volume 2 until buying it on CD.

Lo and behold, I find that this album is full of good stuff.  Some of the
pieces sound much the same, in that the group seems to have a certain
"sound"- much like many songs by Berlin (for instance) have a common
quality- but this does not make them indistinct.  I particularly like
the song "Papua", which as background music sounds very upbeat and happy,
until the lyrics make an impression:

	In another time, in another place
	Carry the flag, a picture of disgrace
	South Pacific soldier; mountain-moving men.
	Children turn away just before the blast,
	Falling to the floor, praying for the last time.
	Time to remember and lay another wreath
	Blowing down kisses to my lover dead beneath.

		etc


The type of music that they play is roughly "new rock", in the same way
as music by Echo and the Bunnymen, Flock of Seagulls, and the like.  I'm
very happy with this disc, and look forward to seeing their other albums
on CD.  (Note: this is NOT a digital recording)

Mark Mallett
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