The Stranglers - Let Me Down Easy (Epic)

The days of sexism and chauvinism are long gone and a more mature, mellower sounding bunch of musical murderers take to the turntable. This is another track from the excellent 'Aural Sculpture' LP and well worth lending an ear to. Ironically, with a name like theirs, Hugh is asking for a peaceful and painless end when his number is finally called. And to add sympathy to his emotive plea, he's wearing a plaster over his left eye on the cover pic - a late contribution to the Band Aid venture? (Diane Cross, Record Mirror, February 9, 1985)

After the shifting, whispering moods of "Skin Deep", this is a glaring disappointment. Doesn't actually sound like The Stranglers at all, more like some hit offering from some continental group no-one's ever heard of. Very weedy and on the cover, Hugh Cornwell is wearing sticky plaster above his left eye. What on earth is the meaning of this? (Tom Hibbert, Smash Hits, February 14, 1985)

If you're not a Stranglers fan already then this song certainly isn't going to persuade you. And if you're a Doors fan, one listen will probably have you after Hugh Cornwell's blood! This is a drab and draggy affair with the worst keyboards break I've heard in a long time. Take it away, boys . . . far away. (Ursula Kenny, No 1, February 9, 1985)