SIMPLE MINDS

Sparkle In The Rain (A&M)

Whether by coincidence or not, Simple Minds have connected up with producer Steve Lilly white, and their sound has moved noticeably closer to U-know-2. Singer Jim Kerr is now cutting his Ferryfied approach with some blatant Bonoisms, resulting in some moves towards an original synthesis, while the rhythm section has left behind its pseudo-funk plod for a more fluid, yet still physical, method of movement. Not everything works—they wipe all the grime off Lou Reed's 'Street Hassle'—but when they inject enough energy into their colors, they do make 'em sparkle; 1 just hope the change don't cost 'em their dance/trance fans._M.D.

PLATINUM BLONDE

Standing In The Dark (Epic)