"Touch And Go" suggests that by this point Howard Devoto hadn't quite left his previous band – The Buzzcocks – behind yet. "The Light Pours Out Of Me" has the mood of The Cure's Three Imaginary Boys album. The mix of FX-laden guitars, vintage synths – which I guess weren't vintage at the time – and a funky bass, makes "Real Life" quite a ride. This sound manages to be of its time, but not dated. "My Mind Ain't So Open" has energy but is throwaway. "Give Me Everything" is stunning, with strong bass driving the song, torrents of guitar and spiky synth stabs. "Burst" sounds like a more serious Bolshoi. The band, not the ballet.

"I Love You You Big Dummy" – as the title suggests – is a disposable b-side that irritates before it ends. "Boredom" and "TV Baby" are more digestible, despite the parping 80s sax in the latter. A cover of Sly And The Family Stone's "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" is unexpected, but makes perfect sense in retrospect. "Permafrost" is as cold as the previous song is hot. It verges on the edges of discord before the end. "A Song From Under The Floorboards" is a bona fide alternative 80s classic, in a slightly different version from the single.

"Twenty Years Ago" has the feeling of collapsing into chaos at any moment, which adds to the excitement. "Look What Fear's Done To My Body (Because You're Frightened)" has punk energy, even if it lacks a punk title. "Model Worker" brings this collection to a close in fine form.