Erasure - Oh L'Amour (Mute)

Borrowing a selection of Dead Or Alive and OMD backing tapes, Vince Clarke's little baby attempts a third stab in the direction of the charts. This blow however, is only a breeze. And although the hypnotizing angelic vocals trigger something in your brain on first sampling, the effect soon wears thin after a third of fourth listen. Pity really, as I rather liked the Thomas The Tank Engine sleeve. 2/5 (Anna Martin, No 1, May 10, 1986)

Vince Clarke is a lot like Mr Kipling. His pop comes nicely packaged, with lots of sweet bits to whet your appetite and just enough feeling and home-made simplicity to make it just that bit tastier than other similar convenience music. But there again, Mr Clarke does make exceedingly good records. This is no different. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, May 17, 1986)

Cease And Desist: The jolly sleeve was in fact quickly withdrawn due to legal issues.