New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84)

This is one of those albums which so dramatically varies in quality within its allotted time-span that it's impossible for the writer to deliver a succinct, conclusive positive or negative verdict, other than to say that when Simple Minds are good they're great and when they're bad they're dreary.

On the minus side, Simple Minds are prone to the worst kind of indulgence. A clever illusionist can convince the gullible that they're witnessing fathomless acts of mystery and magic and on tracks like 'Hunter And The Hunted' and 'King Is White And In The Crowd', Simple Minds are engaged – whether consciously or not – in a similar kind of (self) deception. This music is, in reality, closer in spirit – or more accurately, in its lack of spirit – to the 'cerebral' meanderings of the early seventies progressive school – the most insubstantial of blueprints unveiled as grand designs. With continued exposure the facade rapidly cracks.

Again, an ostensibly attractive, evocative instrumental like 'Somebody Up There Likes You' is ultimately ephemeral – the listener emerges from the hypnosis unaware that anything has really taken place. And nothing really has.

But if all that glitters is not gold, there are still a number of performances here which suggest that Simple Minds may yet harness their occasionally formidable powers for the duration of a full album – and that's an exciting prospect.

The title-track is outstanding, its restless locomotion setting the pulse and mind racing, and as the beat goes crashing, the ensemble lock into a genuinely potent groove – 'New Gold Dream' is one of those songs which you chase right to the fade only to find yourself left stranded and drained.

'Colours Fly And Catherine Wheel', vaguely redolent of U2 and with a sense of space which is almost dub-like, 'Promised You A Miracle', ABC without the excess baggage and the current single 'Glittering Prize' are all worthy of repeated listenings, and their combined presence is the major redeeming feature on an album which too often frustrates and confuses.