Lost in space?

Press, 13 March 1986, Page 18

Lost in space?

SATELLITE SPIES “Destiny In Motion (Reaction REALo2s).Unfortunately, I missed the Satellites Spies* set at the Dire Straits concert last Friday. A pity, because of the quality of their backing musicians it would have been interesting to hear them live.

But the album is a good second choice, although the sound of Mark Loveys and Tommy Joy, plus the session people, bear more than a passing resemblance to Wham! and Tears For Fears. I think that they border more toward the latter.

The single, “Destiny In Motion,” is a lightweight, pinging in your head like a satellite. Personally, I prefer “Night Watchman” for its sound and decent lyrics and “I Wish I'd Asked That Girl To Dance,” for its poppy stance. Tim Palmer, the English producer has done' wonders with the sound on tracks like "Machine,” but so has Glyn Tucker, jnr, on his songs. A better album than expected.

THE UNTOUCHABLES “Wild Child” (Stiff L 38454.) One could expect

Walter Winchell, who was the narrator for “The Untouchables” television series, to start off by saying: “The year was 1986 and the bootleggers were trying to get this album it was so good. Radio U were giving it a blast and Elliot Ness was trying to track down the sounds. Certainly someone’s cover had been blown when he heard ‘I Spy For the FBI’.”

The Untouchables sound recalls the British 2-tone era, but again it is something new. What is so good is that all the tracks are of a consistently high standard and danceable. The understated “Lovers Again” sounds like Madness — it is madness, it’s infectious. “I Spy For the FBI” (produced by Jerry Dammers, AKA Specials) has superb vocalsand the punk funk of “Freak In The Streets” is first rate. Social comment is not ignored, a la ÜB4O, on "City Gent, and “Free Yourself” is coupled with that. Worth waiting for since its British release, in July, 1985, let’s end Prohibition.

— By NEVIN TOPP.