The calmer inner meditations of behind them, the duo found themselves on 's label in America and released the notably more upbeat in 1997. The zeitgeist that the duo perfectly encapsulated in the late '80s had long been left behind, resulting in an album that sounds like it wants to keep the party going when all the guests had long gone home. While itself could drag here and there, it was still an honestly intriguing combination of new and old for the band, something the pleasant (but little more than that) can't claim. At base, the problem is that while the basic knack of hummable hooks and fine singing remains unchanged, something seems missing -- what made songs like and more than enjoyably catchy isn't there. is amiable but not memorable. to his credit doggedly resists flat out following current trends in the hopes of greater relevance, so there's something to be said for sticking to one's guns. His usual preferred combination of gentler lead synths and rougher bass tones sounds enjoyably supple as well, with perhaps the only concession to late-'90s being a greater use of beats. 's voice as always hits its fine sweet-sounding heights. But beyond a cut or two, very little honestly connects beyond that, sad to say. released as a single, has an attractive air to it, with a nicely sweeping chorus, but feels a little too relaxed, not as flat out energetic as it could be. ~ Ned Raggett