[1] David Freeman and Joseph Hughes formed The Lover Speaks in 1985, having previously worked together in the punk outfit The Flys.

Deriving their name from the Roland Barthes' book A Lover's Discourse: Fragments, the duo began writing material and also recruited keyboard player Barry Gilbert after advertising for a keyboardist.

Originally, Freeman had put forward two possible titles for the album – The Politics of Roses and Seriously Purple Prose – but both were rejected by A&M in favour of being self-titled.

[12] In 1987, the duo followed the album with a cover of Dusty Springfield's "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten", but the single failed to chart.

The album was released by A&M Records on vinyl, CD and cassette across the world including in the UK, Europe, US, Canada, Japan and Australia.

The review stated: "Intricate vocals and splashy arrangements spark this debut, dominated by vocalist/songwriter David Freeman's soul-drenched pop originals.

"[17] Kyle Swanson of the Canadian magazine Nerve said: "Exquisitely produced by Jimmy Iovine, The Lover Speaks is disturbingly likeable.

"[19] Stuart Coupe of The Sydney Morning Herald said: "Discovered by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, The Lover Speaks display the influences of early Motown, and a production style that has led to comparisons with Phil Spector.

Hearts heave as synthesisers are programmed and tears roll down cheeks in the studio as Ultravox's "Vienna" royalties are fondly remembered.

He wrote that "Absent One" and "Love Is: "I Gave You Everything" "surge with bruised emotions", while "Every Lover's Sign" and "Never to Forget You" "offer respite from all the melancholy confessions".

He summarised: "...it's the stinging ache in tracks such as "Face Me and Smile," a tale of infidelity, that linger after the album has finished spinning.

"[15] Imran Khan of PopMatters reviewed the re-issue of the album, where he described the duo's sound as a "baroque and windswept drama of romance and pop".

He summarised the album as being "full of bouncy, ebullient grooves and an atmosphere of high drama which still maintains its charm nearly 30 years later".