Whilst their debut album showed the promise,'Diminuendo' captures Lowlife at their peak; dismissing the inevitable Cocteau Twins and gothic rock comparisons and crafting an album of real distinction. Where once they sounded lumbering now all four band members sound like a tight little unit. The key is that whilst 'Permanent Sleep's best songs were released as singles, Lowlife's more popular numbers are backed up by some similarly strong album tracks. Indeed, 'A Sullen Sky' creates an intense, atmospheric opening, only strengthed by 'Big Uncle Ugliness'; featuring a melody and rhythm redolent of 'Juju'-period Siouxsie And The Banshees. Elsewhere 'Tongue Tied And Twisted' rattles along at a fair pace and the pretty 'Given To Dreaming' reveals the tender side to this otherwise overtly masculine group. With the inclusion of some of their best singles and the strong 'Swirls It Swings' EP, 1987 was definitely the year when Lowlife really should have reached beyond their cult following.