Aside from the glorious opener "No Stars," a swelling, romantic tune with a memorable melody and gossamer production, the full-length debut by Figures on a Beach is a bit of a dud.

The group's two indie releases from 1983 and 1984 were complex and melodic synth pop with a slightly arty edge, but the comparatively slick production of this album (by New York remixer Ivan Ivan, who had recently done good work with the fairly similar though more airy Book of Love) makes these songs sound flaccid and underwritten.

Even worse, the arrangements sound terribly dated in retrospect -- it's possible that this very early-'80s brand of art rock sounded dated even in 1987 -- which detracts further from Christopher Ewen's solid melodies.

Songs like "Rhythm" and the mildly over-the-top "Pagan Gift" feel like empty exercises, and even some of the better songs could stand a thorough remixing.

Compared to what had come before, Standing on Ceremony is a disappointment.

The self-titled 1989 follow-up was an improvement, however.