China Crisis - You Did Cut Me (Virgin)

China Crisis have proved the most durable of the 'wimp rock' crew, mainly because of their talent for writing memorable melodies. They're still as wet as the weather though, but Garry Daly's breathy vocals lend a touch of distinction to whatever they do. Pleasant enough, but still nothing more than aural wallpaper. (Karen Swayne, No 1, August 31, 1985)

Another well-crafted technically exact pop tune, with definite chart potential. Some blousey sax for late night listening, with an undulating feel. You can't dislike it, but I find it all a bit insipid. As they say me ol' china - "just not my cup of tea". (Diane Cross, Record Mirror, August 31, 1985)

Yet another young British group make a boring, grown-up, American-style AOR ("Adult Oriented Rock") type record. China Crisis can be interesting when they try but here we find them plumbing the depths of cliché with the usual (for this sort of thing) slow sax solo and useless words like "A love incision/My inner vision". A sad business. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, August 28, 1985)

China Crisis - Black Man Ray (Virgin)

I quite like this one. It's got a nice little melody to it. However, I don't like their image, which is as dismal as Julian Lennon. And unfortunately, it seems to rub off on their otherwise very pretty songs. (Marshall O'Leary, Smash Hits, March 14, 1985)

China Crisis are one of those semi-famous groups whose faces and songs you vaguely recognise but can never totally identify. The anonymity they unwillingly court is a drag, especially if their records aren't immediately catchy. However, 'Black Man Ray' produced by noted American musician Walter Becker, might help matters. It's sad, wistful air will appeal to audiences across the board, and China Crisis will remain in the shadows no longer. (Adrian Jones, No1, March 9, 1985)

Donald Fagen's old Steely Dan partner, Walter Becker, produces this soft rock effort - and it shows. Those soft harmonies and instrumental motifs show strong Steely Dan influences. Fortunately, like all Dan material, this easy-going opus grows with every play. (Mike Gardner, Record Mirror, March 9, 1985)

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)

China Crisis - King In A Catholic Style (Wake Up) (Virgin)

These boys just keep turning out good tracks. This is a good lively tune with a real nice beat. You may think I'm biased towards Liverpool bands and you'd be right. However, all bias apart, this one really is worth 'getting into' (and I told our Rich, "African And White" was a one-off!) (Simon O'Brien, Smash Hits, May 22, 1985)

China Crisis are now the state of art in easy listening. The harder roots of early singles like "African And White" have withered away and left the band to develop pure, weightless melodies around Gary Daly's soft vocals. Crisis – what crisis? Unfortunately for a band that now stands or falls on its tunes, there are few good ones on the new LP and "King In A Catholic Style" is not one of them. It bounces along merrily enough on Walter Becker's airy production. But there are none of those essential shivers up the spine. (Martin Townsend, No 1, May 25, 1985)

An incessant and badgering ram-a-lam-a-ding-dong refrain keeps this going for longer than it deserves.  China Crisis are still too wordy for their own good but some considerable points scored in scooping Walter Becker as producer. (Dylan Jones, Record Mirror, May 25, 1985)

China Crisis - Wishful Thinking (Virgin)

Listening to this late on a lazy afternoon, I must confess it sounds quite pleasant. But by the time it reaches Top Of The Pops - and pray God it won't - this new China Crisis single will sound as wet and weedy as 80 per cent of the rest of the charts. Even Elton John's not still trying to write "Your Song". (Paul Simper, No 1, January 7, 1984)

Light and airy pop with a dimple in its cheek. It's quite pleasant but it's already beginning to sound dangerously dated. (Ian Birch, Smash Hits, January 5, 1984)

China Crisis - Hanna Hanna (Virgin)

This is a very good song. And so it should be, with practically every note and phrase shamelessly nicked from the Talking Heads. Hardly original and almost certainly a hit. A real Hanna horror. (Maureen Rice, No 1, March 3, 1984)

I used to like this lot but I'm getting weary of their whimsical words and stare-at-the-wall-and-daydream melodies. The only really good thing about this is the noise that sounds like a stick being run up the ribs of a skeleton. Shame. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, March 1, 1984)

This sounds like The Cure, the voice is really like Robert Smith. I'd never have guessed it was China Crisis. It's not bad at all, it's nice . . . weird. I really enjoyed listening to it. It's a bit flat, I was just beginning to get a bit bored when the middle eight came in which is quite melodic and picked it up. Hit potential - another grower. (Phil Fearon, Record Mirror, March 3, 1984)

China Crisis - Scream Down At Me (Inevitable)

In a fortnight where so many Big Names fail to come up with the goods, this one stands tall. China Crisis are a shy young Liverpool threesome who build songs round dense, inventive rhythm patterns. This is the follow-up to their excellent debut single "African and White", and includes haunted synth, jangling guitar, deft bass and the golden tonsils of guest vocalist Ms Linda Wright over chattering, clattering percussion. Probably too off-beat for the radio, but a great record. And it doesn't even feature Trevor Horn! (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, May 13, 1982)

China Crisis - Christian (Virgin)

In a week when everyone seems to be slowing down and strumming, CC really go for the ballad in a big way. Sublime Karn-esque bass floats, the acoustic gets plucked, the voice dreams away. Every one a tearjerker. Hardly 'A Single' but who cares. We can wallow. ET must have gone to everyone's heads. (Betty Page, Record Mirror, January 15, 1983)

The Liverpool lads - now, with the departure of drummer Dave Reilly, slimmed down to a duo - muff another stab at the charts by releasing an awkward, obscure song that should have been left on the album where it belongs. (Dave Rimmer, Smash Hits, January 20, 1983)