As a newcomer to the Simple Minds back catalogue I was a little confused by this record. After some digging I found that it is a companion piece to the album "Sons and Fasciation" and was released at a budget price.
It seems that on completing their new album in 1981, the band had a large amount of material left over that they felt was too good to discard. What this doesn't explain, is why the lead single from the project is included on this record and not the principal album. All very confusing when you're coming to the party almost forty five years late.
Given its provenance it not unreasonable to describe the music on this record as something of a mixed bag. The single "The American" is a fantastic display of original ideas and catchy grooves that bursts from the speakers. Whilst being b-side material, "20th Century Promised Land" manages to keep its head up and survive the faint disco influences that infiltrate its rock styling. Also worthy of mention is "Wonderful Young Life" which points to the sound the band would adopt in their commercial peak. As with all early Simple Minds records, the golden thread of Derek Forbes's superb bass and the undeniable genius of Charles Burchill remains constant.
Conversely songs like "League of Nations" sound like unfinished ideas that were given a cursory dusting before being paraded before us. Personally I am not a fan of the instrumental "Sound of 70 Cities" as it has a really annoying synth noise that I can't navigate past. So whilst interesting and no doubt essential for fans, this album isn't quite to my taste and I look forward to moving on to the band's more commercial work. 2/5
