Not being too dystopian music-wise, 1984 found ULTRAVOX at the crossroads – at least, in stylistic terms. It wasn’t the foursome’s fault, of course; it was due to the decline of new wave as a music genre. However, the ensemble were on a roll after a stretch of successful records – four studio and one live – they had been releasing on an annual basis since 1980, and when the quartet followed 1983’s concert document “Monument” with “Lament” their fans felt rather hopeful. The band, too – deciding to produce this platter themselves, building up on the experience rubbed off from Brian Eno, Steve Lillywhite, Conny Plank and George Martin and achieving their goals – commercial if not creative. Or so it seemed for years, in the light of original drummer Warren Cann leaving the line-up before their next longplay, which also would be the last to feature Midge Ure until the arrival of their final chapter “Brilliant” in 2012 – yet the album’s 40th Anniversary Edition might redress the impression of yore.
