Birmingham Mail

19 December 1984

Of all the acts to join the December rush into the NEC’s Arena, the blonde hedgehog from High Wycombe, of high pithing voice and nervous giggle, is the unlikeliest. Yet he filled the Arena and has a second date this week.

The man who built his career on a solo act had to compromise for the Arena of course. His brother Martin joined him on bass – and proved to be a neat, precise player – and there was a drummer in a cage of synthesiser drums.

And a Howard Jones concert without the mime artist Jed is unthinkable and he raised the curtain with a comic introduction. Later he returned for some playful sketches with Jones.

He got off to a slow start and it was a while before fans heard one of his big hits, Like To Get To Know You Well. Judging by new songs like Automaton, his path through simple synthesizer songs is leading into ever more sterile areas. Without the activities of Jed it would be very boring.

Support for the High Wycombe wanderer was provided by a pretty pair of Scottish lasses calling themselves Strawberry Switchblade. Dressed like a Hollywood vision of Ukrainian bridesmaids they were a feast for the eyes, but it was a thin diet for the ears.

JONATHAN DAUMLER-FORD

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