[6] Dissatisfied with their first album Life in a Day, the band this time went for a completely different approach to find a sound of their own, working more spontaneously and incorporating the opportunities, potential and atmosphere of the studio in the compositional procedure.

"[13] The Guardian noted the "controlled considered style based on the mid-Seventies art-pop of Bowie and Ferry," writing that "it's clever and derivative ... but still worthwhile".

[14] Smash Hits' Red Starr found that "this excellent, imaginative young band disappear into a whirlpool of electronic effects, Magazine and Bryan Ferry impersonations.

[2] Eric Chappe of CMJ New Music Monthly highlighted Simple Minds' "determination to constantly add unexpected touches to the arrangements".

[15] Bob Stanley wrote in Record Collector that the album "should be hailed as a singularly strong post-punk-into-synth-pop bridge but the shadow of 'Belfast Child' looms over their legacy.