Set The Tone - Dance Sucker (Island)

This Glasgow quartet bear the dubious distinction of more appearances on The Tube than any other band in living memory. They will, however, need more than this scratchy white "funk" to clock up as many on Top Of The Pops. The re-mixing by Francois Kervorkian (a New York DJ responsible, among other things, for the brill re-working of Yazoo's "Situation") helps, but not enough. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, January 20, 1983)

More months than it seems possible after  the initial succulent promise of 'Here Comes A Surprise' they've finally delivered: at last, harder Brit dancephunk that puts the tongue in the cheek. the grin in grind. the bum in bump, goes against the grain and the groin. Scratch by scratch it's minimal but satisfying and hurts in all the right places They understand how to get physical. The best dance record of the year until the next Tone 12 incher. (Betty Page, Record Mirror, January 15, 1983)

WHITE AND TORCH: Let's Forget (Chrysalis)

Sentimental, moi? Well just a touch. I'd love to see this talented pair do well, they've got stunningly rich, emotive vocal chords displayed to the full in this dramatic, swelling ballad, but I fear it may be a bit overwhelming in the lip-quivering dept and lacks the magnetism of the last disc. Full marks, however, for the classy Ultravox-ian embossed sleeve. (Betty Page, Record Mirror, January 15, 1983)

For all their talk about "feelings" and "emotions", this pair are too bound up in the great '60s songs that influenced them to communicate anything more than a sense of vague nostalgia. Twenty years ago, this kind of clipped, sombre vocal and cinematic string production might've jerked a tear. These days, it just sounds pompous. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, January 20, 1983)

China Crisis - Christian (Virgin)

In a week when everyone seems to be slowing down and strumming, CC really go for the ballad in a big way. Sublime Karn-esque bass floats, the acoustic gets plucked, the voice dreams away. Every one a tearjerker. Hardly 'A Single' but who cares. We can wallow. ET must have gone to everyone's heads. (Betty Page, Record Mirror, January 15, 1983)

The Liverpool lads - now, with the departure of drummer Dave Reilly, slimmed down to a duo - muff another stab at the charts by releasing an awkward, obscure song that should have been left on the album where it belongs. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, January 20, 1983)