The Fixx
Shuttered Room

THE REVIEW

The early '80s are, as is well known, the years of classy pop that evolved from the new wave. Many of the songs that marked this era have become famous classics even today, but conversely, there are many other artists, though talented, that time has left behind and now survive only for a small circle of nostalgics: among them we can count the The Fixx, London-based, formed in '79 and debuting in 1982 with "Shuttered Room."

Which, more than a true album, gives the impression of an anthology of the period, a varied potpourri of facets: there's something for everyone. Basically, it's a sparkling pop rock akin to Duran/Spandau (I Found You, Cameras In Paris), but in the mix, we have punk reminiscences from the Stranglers (Shuttered Room), glossy pop (Stand Or Fall, Red Skies, unsurprisingly the singles extracted), canonical new wave (The Fool) or inspired by XTC (Some People, Sinking Island). More generally, there is no lack of ideas, but they seem like ideas already had by others.

Having said that, I wouldn't want to give too negative an image: the album is very enjoyable, it's a classic well-done piece but still immature and partially out of focus; you can sense, not yet fully blossomed, the talent of its authors (already the next album, "Reach The Beach," would be their biggest commercial success), who, driven by the desire to achieve fame, tried to create something that pleased everyone, and I think that if The Fixx had landed at least one chart-busting single, today they could at least be included in the Valhalla of one-hit wonders. Therefore, it's the personality that languishes, but being a first work, it's a forgivable flaw.

Obviously, like all albums born of their time, it has aged poorly, but for this very reason, I recommend it to fans of Eighties sounds: if you don't know The Fixx, they might truly captivate you.