Howard Jones - New Song (WEA)

Candifloss synthi-pop. Producer Colin Thurston, man at the controls of Duran Duran and Kajagoogoo, spins out lots of sweetness and light. About as substantial as the fluffy pink stuff on a stick. (Lynn Hanna, No 1, August 20, 1983)

Another in the long line of pretty-boy popsters, Howard is apparently rather big in High Wycombe. This first offering is produced by the same man as Duran Duran and Kajagoogoo and will probably be MASSIVE. It's squeaky clean disco pop with lots of whoops and woos in the background. You can't fault it. (Eleanor Levy, Record Mirror, August 20, 1983)

Missed A Sitter: Smash Hits failed to review 'New Song' which reached number 3 in the pop charts.

Palais Schaumburg - Hockey (Phonogram)

With a little help from Dieter Meier of Yello, German avant-gardists Palais Schaumburg play the mad professors on this delightfully dotty song. There's a cute boy/girl duet, some jazzy touches and a great deal of off-centre charm. (Lynn Hanna, No 1, August 20, 1983)

Gang Of Four - Is It Love (EMI)

There's only two left of the original gang of post-punk revolutionaries. And a smoother, tingling dance sound has replaced their taut, roughed-up funk-rock. This explores the love maze with an intensity that makes most of this week's singles sound pale. Ethereal girls' vocals are set against a reluctant admission that's all the more affecting. Although The Gang Of Four are famous for their theorising and political awareness, they hit at the heart. (Lynn Hanna, No 1, August 20, 1983)

Cliff Richard - Never Say Die (EMI)

Cliff gets funky shock! Here he suffers a setback, picks himself up, gets down on the disco floor and delivers a quick sermon on surviving. Cliff's such a trooper that this doesn't sound half as strange as it should. But then when you look like that at his age perhaps you can be said to know your subject. (Lynn Hanna, No 1, August 20, 1983)

Via Vagabond - Hip Today (Albion)

Via Vagabond are Nick Plytas, ex-Roogolator pianist, and friends. They concoct a jokey '50s beat brew which is light, breezy and very sarcastic. The title says it all. Whether they fall foul of the same faults they criticise in others is another matter which need not concern us here. (Lynn Hanna, No 1, August 20, 1983)