Hoodoo Gurus - Good Times (Chrysalis)

Aren't the Aussies doing well this year? Castlemaine XXXX, Foster's, Pat Cash, and Craig Johnston have all become household names, while musically the continent seems to have come out of the doldrums with the likes of Mental As Anything, the wonderful Go-Betweens and the longer-established Hoodoo Gurus. This, the umpteenth single from the Gurus, features The Bangles on (brilliant) backing vocals and (brilliant) instruments. A cheery affair, with a dynamic melody, "Good Times" is, of course, brilliant. (Fiona Looney, No 1, August 1, 1987)

Red Box - Chenko (WEA)

A-Ha meet the Old Spice ad, and Red Box reap the rewards. Pronounced 'Tenka-io', which no doubt is something very deep and meaningful in some dodgy language, this slice of atmospheric musing finds the band at their best yet, with the duo rustling up an undoubted chart hit that deserves its place far more so than the appalling dross that Red Box have produced so far. With Chenko, opening up the Red Box is no longer the distasteful experience that it once was. (Fiona Looney, No 1, August 1, 1987)

I'm a complete pushover for anything with a bit of pseudo-Russian chanting so this gets off to a flying start and continues in the same majestically spooky flavour all the way through helped by loads of moody piano and the trembly, delicate vocals. I haven't heard anything quite so loin-stirring since Boney M's "Rasputin" - and a higher compliment than that could not be paid. (Lola Borg, Smash Hits, July 1, 1987)