Retro Spins: Thompson Twins - Into The Gap

Despite mixed reviews upon its release, Thompson Twins' Into The Gap would go on to be their most successful album. It would be certified 2X platinum in the UK, and Canada, and also reach platinum status in New Zealand and the USA. Further, it would reach the number one spot on the UK album charts, and number ten on the US Billboard 200.

All of this momentum was ushered in by singles, Hold Me Now, Doctor Doctor, You Take Me Up, and Sister Of Mercy, which were all accompanied by music videos. Naturally, this suited MTV just fine, who kept them in steady rotation. The Gap was also released as a single in a few countries. However, a music video was never filmed.

Reading through some of the reviews, I can't help but agree a little bit. I won't go as far as Dave Rimmer from Smash Hits, who called it, "empty words and plodding tunes sung in a whiney voice and slung together with fake sentiment." Though, perhaps Keith Sharp of Music Express, was more so onto something when he stated it's a, "distinctive milestone on how far new music has come in the past few years."

Into The Gap is definitely a product of its time. Heavily populated with synth, and electronic programming. It's synth pop at its absolute most generic. Personally, I think Doctor Doctor, The Gap, and Hold Me Now, are the only tunes worth getting excited about. The rest are easily skippable for me, something I'm disappointed to have to say, but not surprised by. I dare say that some songs are flat out boring.

It all just goes back to what I've said before. Their first two albums have a lot of instrumentation and experimentation going on, which make them unique to listen to. When they stripped all of this down to a trio, and focused on a basic sound, the end result became basic albums. Yes, albums that appealed to a greater mass, but at the cost of what initially attracted me.

Thompson Twins would find future success with new singles, but their popularity would begin to wane. Album sales began to drop, a lineup change would occur, and overall, the band would never reach the heights again that they did with Into The Gap. All of that starts to unfold next time as I dive into 1985's Here's To The Future.

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