Half an Octopuss

Released in late 1985 as a limited edition 10-inch EP, Half an Octopuss serves as a companion piece to the 'Close to Me' single and the 'The Head on the Door' era. While the title track is a cornerstone of their pop-crossover success, the EP is notable for including rarer tracks like 'A Man Inside My Mouth' and 'Stop Dead,' which showcase the band's experimental B-side sensibilities. Sonically, the record is a departure from the 'Goth Trilogy' (Seventeen Seconds, Faith, Pornography), embracing a cleaner, more rhythmic production style influenced by new wave and synth-pop. The use of brass, particularly the trumpet hook in 'Close to Me,' marked a significant shift in their instrumental palette. Critically, this era is seen as the moment Robert Smith perfected the 'bittersweet pop' formula, blending catchy melodies with lyrics of neurosis and confinement. It remains a sought-after artifact for collectors, representing the band's peak creative fluidity before the massive stadium success of the late 80s.