UB40 - I Won't Close My Eyes (DEP International)

UB40 singles are always deceptive, seeming to have no obvious melody or structure at first, yet turning out to be hypnotic and addictive. Even so, this one does sound lacklustre on the few plays I've been able to give it. (Charlie Gillett, Smash Hits, February 4, 1982)

Fad Gadget - Saturday Night Special (Mute)

Behind the painted face and the long nose lurks a man with a message or two to get across, and it would spoil the drama of hearing the record to tell you what it's about; put it on the shopping list and try it out. (Charlie Gillett, Smash Hits, February 4, 1982)

China Crisis - African And White (Inevitable)

While you're at the shop checking out the Chas Jankel, ask to hear this one too; it has a lot of nice instrumental ideas, and only the slightly doomy vocals stop it from being really good. (Charlie Gillett, Smash Hits, February 4, 1982)

Saw this lot at the Venue the other night, supporting Wang Chung, which is about as enviable a task as having to spend a weekend in Doncaster with John Shearlaw. They tackled it pretty well, mind you, and the single bears out their status as Promising Newcomers or whatever. Well-paced and charmingly played, its synth bits are surprisingly subtle, with the excellent drumming and percussion well to the fore. An Australian tells us: "Iyem convinced that thay wull by a mijor baaand within the next (hic) yee-er." (Sunie, Record Mirror, February 13, 1982)

Direct Drive - Don't Depend On Me / Time Machine (Oval)

First, I must declare my interest: this is out on Oval, where I work my day shift. But other people in more objective positions...notably the dee jays on the pirate soul stations, and Robbie Vincent on Radio London - have praised the band's deft touch, with some of them liking the catchy "Don't Depend On Me" and the rest preferring the jazzier "Time Machine". Between them, they have helped to give Oval its first disco chart hit. (Charlie Gillett, Smash Hits, February 4, 1982)

ABC - Poison Arrow (Phonogram)

Beautiful arrangement and production, and some clever lines in the song; the singer wavers between Spandau Ballet, Tony Bennett and the Osmonds when they did "Love Me For A Reason". When he figures out the right approach, he will probably have a number one, but not yet, not with this one. (Charlie Gillett, Smash Hits, February 4, 1982)