NME 9 Feb 1980

Sounds 16 Feb 1980

Negative of above advert

NME 9 Feb 1980 by Paul Morley

Howard Devoto by Tom Sheehan

Cabaret for The Hand Heart & Feet - At last Magazine get right. If rumours could kill - they would be long dead. Unexpectedly resilient - they pop up following the American tour - three members' session work in aid of the appalling Steve Strange and intensive rehearsals - and everything is as it should be. 'Floorboards' is a beautifully. weighted description of acclimatisation and withdrawal - the most complete slice of Magazine music since 'Light Pours Out Of Me'.

Devoto's words are wickedly tempting and tormenting and the insect of -'Metamorphosis' and What' Do I Get?' makes a suggestive return. Most excitingly - the music has been organised and mixed just as we always knew it should've been.

Howard Devoto and Martin Zero are working together again. Following the acceptable intrusion of John Leckie on 'Real Life and the unforgiveable insensitivity of Colin Thurston on 'Secondhand Daylight' in breaks the most productive perceptive producer in British rock. The result is radical. The individual forces of Magazine are heard as if for the first time. McGeoch's lyrical metal-guitar is brought up - the drums separated and cleaned - keyboards at last pushed down to the bottom - and Barry Adamson's freshly funky bass for once allowed its own space to plot. The song just keeps coming - alluring melody - mocking harmonies - Devoto crawling through - wearily conversing - trying hard to be 'modest'.

The '20 Years Ago' is coarser - the out of control guitar - Devoto's breathless despair - the frightened sax - 'all confirming the extent of Magazine recovery.

This is the first of three singles to be released at monthly intervals in preparation for the April LP. 'Floorboards' is a masterpiece and it gets better all the time.

Sounds 9 Feb 1980 by Sandy Robertson

Ordinary and quite decent popular song structure marred by the usual Devoto self-pity masked as philosophy. 'I am angry - I am ill and I am as ugly as sin' - it goes. Just what we need to hear to help us as we go along through the mist - right?

1. [Song From Under The Floorboards, A]
2. [Twenty Years Ago]

MAGAZINE: Song From Under The Floorboards (Virgin)