Echo And The Bunnymen - The Back Of Love (Korova)

There was a time when the suggestion that The Bunnymen might actually have a hit would have been greeted with snorts of derision. Nowadays I'm not so sure. Mac sounds like he's fed up of loitering in the backwaters of hipness and brings forth an impassioned vocal that complements the urgent guitars and thundering drums of his colleagues. Cutting loose and cutting deep as well. (David Hepworth, Smash Hits, May 27, 1982)

Echo And The Bunnymen - The Cutter (Korova)

Dark vocals, dramatic chords and the kind of "Eastern" riff that sent Blancmange scurrying off to Egypt to film a video make this an intriguing but inscrutable single. "Spare us the cutter," implores the chorus. Certainly boys, but, er, what is it? (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, January 20, 1983)

Echo And The Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses (Korova)

"Bring On The Dancing Horses" is Echo at their least enigmatic and most political. The verses are charged to bursting with Mac pointing the finger of scorn at the fakers and liars who ruin the lives of ordinary people by selling them cheap dreams. This October song comes at an ironically apt time considering the current arguments about democratic socialism. Melodically this is also the Bunnymen in their strongest single form since "Never Stop". Will, Mac, Les and Pete concoct a multi-layer of effects from fragile to razor sharp. It's been a long while but it's more than worth the wait. (Max Bell, No 1, October 12, 1985)

The first Bunnies single in over a year and as someone who's not been knocked flat by their charms previously, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Lush and lovely. Bring on the windswept videos! Mac - I'm converted. I swear I could almost hear your heart beating. (Nancy Culp, Record Mirror, October 26, 1985)

Strawberry Switchblade - Since Yesterday (Korova)

Having missed the summer of love by a few years, the polka-dot girls try and take us into a winter of whimsy with their own sweet and sour brand of '80s psychedelia. How nice. (Adrian Jones, No 1, November 10, 1984)

This begins, if I'm not mistaken, with a snatch of something famous by the composer Sibelius, and then ventures into a wistful melody, sung in brittle harmonies which touches the heart. One of the few records this week which isn't trying to sound like something else. (Neil Tennant, Smash Hits, November 5, 1984)

After their impressive first outing "Trees And Flowers", this Scottish duo waltz back into the psychedelic drive-in with a jaunty little tale of love and loneliness that tastes of saccharine flavoured popcorn and steaming Kia-Ora. More sexy than Everything But The Girl, more cosmic than the 13th Floor Elevators and showing that they haven't put all their strawberries in one basket. (Dylan Jones, Record Mirror, October 20, 1984)

Echo & The Bunnymen - Seven Seas (Korova)

Good, I wanted this. I find Echo confusing. I can't figure out why the rest of the world see them as geniuses when I seem to be the only person who thinks they're very average. I still associate them with 'The Pictures On My Wall' and that small label, Liverpool scene. It's got charm - something that none of these other singles have really had so far. That's very important these days when the charts are so charmless and characterless. Still, there's nothing new here. It's '80s Byrds meets Ringo Starr singing "It Don't Come Easy". I quite like it now. (John Taylor [Duran Duran], Smash Hits, June 21, 1984)

Strawberry Switchblade - Who Knows What Love Is? (Korova)

Strawberry Switchblade have taken over from Bananarama as cutie pie press puppets with waspish tongues. Temporarily ensconced in the public eye, these girls can do no wrong. This is a gooey adolescent love song which lacks the catchiness of "Since Yesterday", although the trumpet playing is like a blast of fresh air. Full marks to the session musician. (Ro Newton, No 1, May 11, 1985)

A very pleasant ballad, but I can't help feeling that Strawberry Switchblade are deliberately aiming at the more mainstream pop market. Not that that's a bad thing - I just feel they could be really really interesting and obscure. (Stephen 'Tin Tin' Duffy, Smash Hits, May 8, 1985)

More breathy goo from the Scots duo. It's pleasant but only for those who sigh when they see the Andrex puppy nuzzling that rabbit on the advert - not realising he's only licking him to see whether he prefers it roasted or braised. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, May 11, 1985)

This record is mellow. It is for lazing around in the sun doing as little as possible to. The lyrics are great! With such lines as "I get myself a glass of milk and a colour magazine" they won't move the people to revolt, but they are about day-to-day happenings. (Simon O'Brien, Smash Hits, May 22, 1985)

Note: Simon O'Brien played Damon Grant in Channel 4's Brookside. Apparently.