The Fixx's music stood out from '80s radio, even though they shared the airwaves with numerous techno bands and new wave groups. They had an intangible quality to their lyrical flow and musical rhythm that kept them from sounding like everyone else. On
One Thing Leads to Another, the indistinguishable characteristics become evident as all of their best songs are played out, making for quite an amusing compilation. Four tracks do hover above the rest on this 12-song offering, opening with the clang and push of the title track, their highest charting single (number four on Billboard in 1983). The mechanical dream-like pulse of
"Secret Separation" contains an unavoidable attractiveness in its chorus, and the wispy but haunting
"Saved by Zero" reflects a certain science fiction motif. The paranoid
"Are We Ourselves" has lead singer
Cy Cumin coming off like
Peter Schilling, with the chorus one step behind him in the background. The other eight songs are far from dry, complete with a hustle-and-bustle flux incorporated by clean synthesizers and ridged pop tempos, tied up with a rock styled flavor. This hits package is an enjoyable wallow through some music that surprisingly has a difference. ~ Mike DeGagne
