China Crisis “Working with Fire and Steel” (1983)

On several occasions when queried by Jive Time surveys, I have championed the China Crisis. I’m sure many of you may have rolled your eyes or scratched your heads in response. Why should I favor this group over dozens of new wave/synth pop bands? There are plenty with more hits and certainly many more with greater popularity. China Crisis is part of that handful of new wave bands, such as Talk Talk, that developed into something much, much more. They were one those bands that progressed by leaps and bounds with each subsequent release, both in complexity and depth. Sure, they had their share of hits, but unlike their contemporaries, became an album-oriented band of substance. Their first leap came on their second LP, “Working with Fire and Steel, Possible Pop Songs, Vol. 2. Here, China Crisis became a fixed quartet, adding bass and drums. The music is even more charming than their debut, but this time with more strength, less austerity and minimalist arrangements. "Working with Fire and Steel" is the classic here. No other song defined China Crisis' essence more. With its percolating beat, Daly's hiccupping vocals, and a smashing chorus, it was the perfect modern pop song. With that said, there was also so much more to China Crisis than that one song. Songs cut from the same cloth as "...Fire and Steel," including "Animals in Jungles" and "Hanna Hanna," but reveals a band with deeper meaning and ambitious ideas. Lundon's sweet backing vocals (and lead vocals on the pretty "Wishful Thinking" and "When the Piper Calls") balance out the quirkiness of Daly's voice, creating a perfect combination. Although they were pigeonholed as a 'synth pop' band, China Crisis was much more. All that mattered to them was the song, and this album is chock full of intelligent, well-written pop songs. Producer Mike Howlett (Gong, Steve Hillage, and Joan Armatrading) added much to the sonic blend, allowing the melodies to shine while toughening up the band's sound. Even the softer moments, like "Here Comes a Raincloud," and "The Soul Awakening" are full of life and excitement. Apart from their own matured sound on this release, there are traces of rock, pop, and jazz floating between the lines. It was only a matter of time before they were compared to as a sort of “synth” Steely Dan. –Eduard