This band's comeback is a bit belated and ill-timed as far as an international audience is concerned. Back in the early 80s, these guys ripped through the very fabric of the charts, but today you could scarcely identify with their synthesized, pop-ish acoustics. The music itself sounds vaguely familiar and is reminiscent of forgotten fan followings, cheap electric guitars and bad mullet hairstyles.
The hit song "Relax" is a prime example of their style and other tracks, like "Two Tribes" and "The Power of Love", establish a rhythm that doesn't give you anything essential to write home about. On the other hand, you may find solace amidst the innumerable remixes of the earlier songs that dot the latter half of this album. Among the former, you would find the remix of "Relax (New York Mix)" and the remix of "Two Tribes" by Rob Searle and Club 69.
The album isn't deviant and probably caters to an audience of miniscule proportions. The sound lacks dexterity and innovation, making "Maximum Joy" a disappointing investment.
This article was first published on14 May 2001.