Search - Heaven 17 :: Penthouse & Pavement

There's No Need To Debate

Benjamin Cheaves | Atlanta, GA | 07/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best synth-pop albums ever. Political lyrics, bored vocals, keyboards, what more could you ask for? With the exception of a few tracks this album is perfect Reagan/Thatcher Era 80s new wave dance music. Dance along to "Let's All Make A Bomb" or "Fascist Groove Thang" and "We're Going to Live For A Very Long Time" and party like it's the end of the World. Don't bother with their later stuff, it's awful (my opinion) - THIS IS IT. Play alongside Human League's Reproduction, Travelogue & Dare and you'll wish it was 1982 all over again. This stuff works great with the New New Wave set thats going around now.The cover art is the epitome of bland corporate brochures. So great even Blur ripped it off some 15 years later for the back of their Great Escape album..."

Full of Character

D. H. Richards | Silver Spring, MD USA | 07/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first Heaven 17 album I ever bought was the US only compilation "Heaven 17" which took track from Penthouse and Pavement and the band's second album The Luxury Gap. So, a few years later when I picked up this on import, it was like discovering the band all over again.
Frankly compared to the versions of a couple of songs on the Arista Heaven 17 album (I think they used single mixes) these sound rough- Play to Win and Let's All Make a Bomb come to mind. But they have a certain charm in their rough draft form here.
The real jewel is Soul Warfare, originally performed by the UK "band" Hot Gossip (as produced by BEF, the production arm of Heaven 17, so it is not a big surprise Heaven 17 choose to re-do it for this album). The song has a wonderful piano driven feel to it.
Overall Penthouse and Pavement stands as a really enjoyable slice of UK blue eyed post punk funk, rough in spots. But while the follow up The Luxury Gap was more polished, this album has more character. See my review of the Luxury Gap too."

New Wave elegance with a social conscious ?

M. Williams | Texas, USA | 10/17/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Formed by two ex-Human League members Martyn Ware, Ian Marsh,and added vocalist Glenn Gregory. Heaven 17 combines two of my favorite aspects in music, synthesizers and funk-like basslines. Penhouse and Pavement is really a masterpiece of the New Wave style (not to sound too corny). Gone are the ultra-contemprary/abstract sound of Human League's first two records (masterpieces in their own right), replaced with funk and synth pop. The album is synth based and most of the songs have a political/social context to them. Its great to hear soungs that are not about love. Lyrics about large coporations are still relevent today as they where in 1981. Heaven 17's work stands out from the typical 80's camp with style and relevance."