Ultravox - All Fall Down (Chrysalis)

Ultravox's music has always verged on the pompous, and when they move into Celtic territory (previous explorers including Dexy's, Big Country and The Pogues) the result is as overblown as you might expect. Midge croons impassionedly over a slow, military-style snare beat, but the resulting product [also featuring The Chieftains] has remarkably little spirit. Suitable background music for a Selina Scott special on the Scottish highlands, but little else. (Karen Swayne, No 1, November 15, 1986)

Whatever happened to the "Ultra" bit? Probably got lost around the same time as Midge Ure decided he was fed up with being a pop star and wanted to be a serious human being instead, just like David Dimbleby or Sir Bob Geldof. This is always a big mistake and poor wee Midge has to sing lines like "Look in the mirror and what do you see, an American, Russian, a soldier or me", and make them sound important, but naturally it doesn't work and just sounds ridiculous instead. It's obviously meant to be a major comment on the stupidity of war, which is all very well and good, and can best be compared with, er, Rolf Harris' "Two Little Boys". (Barry McIlheney, Smash Hits, November 5, 1986)