Having at last laid to bed with its final, intoxicatingly elegant albums, continued its end-days spirit with his own return to solo work. Dedicated to 's father, is deservedly most famous for its smash single With a gentle samba-derived rhythm leading into the steadier rock pace of the song, it's '80s at his finest, easy listening without being hopelessly soporific. As a whole, fully established the clean, cool vision of on his own to the general public. Instead of ragged rock explosions, emotional extremes, and all that made his '70s work so compelling in and out of , here is the suave, debonair if secretly moody and melancholic lover, with music to match. Co-producer , continuing his role from the latter albums, picks up where left off right from the slinky opening grooves of "Sensation." The range of people on the album is an intriguing mix, from latterday members like and to avid disciples like 's . Everyone is subordinated to 's overall vision, and as a result there's not as much full variety on as might be thought or hoped. The album's biggest flaw is indeed that it's almost too smooth, with not even the hint of threat or edge that once readily made his own. As something that's a high cut above the usual mid-'80s yuppie smarm music, though, remains an enjoyable keeper that has aged well. ~ Ned Raggett