Simple Minds - New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84)

In the history of music, there's perhaps not a better case of an artist having a distinct 'before and after' period of their history.

For the first few years of their existence, Glasgow's Simple Minds played an arty variant of post-punk, all European coldness, pulsating basslines, and ominous synth. But in the latter half of the 80s, they were best known as purveyors of stadium rock anthems, frontman Jim Kerr pumping his fist in the sky, as thousands of fans sang along.

The two bands are almost unrecognisable, but 1982's New Gold Dream (81/82/83/84) finds them right on the precipice between these two worlds, playing an absolutely thrilling blend of pop-influenced art-rock that gave them their first taste of superstardom.