Going back in time to 1983 The Comsat Angels signed to the Jive record label. 'Land' was the first album to be released and it is clear from the outset that the group were making serious moves for commercial success. 'Will You Stay Tonight' is actually a a rather good synth pop single but after 3 fine albums of earnest post-punk posturing it does seem just a trifle naff; thankfully the album is strong enough to compare favourably with their earlier work. It does feature an unnecessary mix of early single 'Independence Day' but 'A World Away' is delciously funky and the elegiac qualities of 'Nature Trails' makes an understated bedfellow for 'Pictures', a standout on the previous long player. That is followed by the clumsy, over produced and dated-sounding 'Mister Memory' but 'As Above So Below' demonstrates that their muse hadn't deserted them yet.