The Plateau Phase

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

The Plateau Phase was the first album released by post-punk band Crispy Ambulance. It was released in 1982 and was a departure to the sound of the earlier singles which was considered to be closer to the sound of post-punk contemporaries Joy Division. It reached number 21 on the UK Indie Charts by the months of May and April 1982.

It received harsh criticism at the time, a typical example being this review by Mat Snow for NME:

This is one of the most pretentious, turgid and tedious LPs I've ever heard. Slavish imitation of Joy Division doth not good music make. All the trade-marks are there -relentless inverted drumming, ominous bass lines, dramatic flanged guitar, bleak synth washes and a lone desperate voice. But whereas Joy Division were sincere and inspired in their depiction of obsession, loss and desolation, Crispy Ambulance are portentous, inane and very, very boring.

Retrospective criticism was more positive, e.g. Ned Raggett, AllMusic:

The Plateau Phase boldly aimed to stand out as an experimental rock album and achieved its goal with style and power. With tips of the hat to everyone from early-'70s Pink Floyd and aggro Krautrock to the later song-smashings of Throbbing Gristle, The Plateau Phase isn't an out-and-out masterpiece, but comes awfully close.

Original Track Listing

1. Are You Ready? (5:49)
2. Travel Time (3:51)
3. The Force And The Wisdom (4:02)
4. The Wind Season (5:29)
5. Death From Above (3:28)
6. We Move Through The Plateau Phase (5:50)
7. Bardo Plane (3:32)
8. Chill (4:47)
9. Federation (3:44)
10. Simon's Ghost (3:42)

CD reissue

The CD, first issued as Comprising : The Plateau Phase, Live On A Hot August Night, Sexus, includes the Live on a Hot August Night single and the "Sexus" A-Side. It was issued on Factory Benelux in 1990 (FBN-12-CD) and LTM in 1999 (LTMCD-2315). The sleeve design is based on the sleeve of Live on a Hot August Night.

It was reissued again on Factory Benelux in 2012 (FBN-12-CD) with the original sleeve and title.

1. Are You Ready? (5:49)
2. Travel Time (3:51)
3. The Force And The Wisdom (4:02)
4. The Wind Season (5:29)
5. Death From Above (3:28)
6. We Move Through The Plateau Phase (5:50)
7. Bardo Plane (3:32)
8. Chill (4:47)
9. Federation (3:44)
10. Simon's Ghost (3:42)
11. The Presence (13:03)
12. Concorde Square (9:08)
13. Sexus (6:11)