Some would call it music for wimps but The Lotus Eaters deserve a lot of credit for their charming way with a tune. One should imagine slightly fey vocals over a backdrop of Durutti Column-like guitar to appreciate what they were about. Until the recent new release of 'Silentspace', 1984's 'No Sense Of Sin' has remained their sole long player but such is the addictiveness of the subtle melodies on offer that much of this album sounds like a top quality best-of compilation that avoids the naffness associated with much of 80's pop. 'The First Picture Of You' was their one significant UK hit; a typically innocent pop song about young love but with follow-ups of the strength of 'Out On Your Own', 'German Girl' and 'Can You Keep A Secret' it seems unfair that they were unable to build on their initial success. One fault that coud be levelled at 'No Sense Of Sin' is the production which involved three separate producers so whilst the likes of 'Two Virgins Tender' and 'Endless' retain their subtle guitar melodies, 'Alone Of All Her Sex' is almost buried by the the thudding drums unlike their earlier Peel Session versions whose stark intensity and beauty made them essential listening. A modern day comparison for the duo would be Travis's 'The Invisible Band' which revealed another group whose forte was subtle, understated pop music. The Lotus Eaters, together with the similarly unfashionable China Crisis, sound more relevant today than ever, purely for their songwriting craft.