With Flaunt the Imperfection the band worked with a different approach than their previous album. While the songs on Working with Fire and Steel – Possible Pop Songs Volume Two were mostly written in the studio by Daly and Lundon and instantly recorded, the songs on this album were written and rehearsed as a band in advance before recording. The first recording sessions with Walter Becker took place at Rock City Studios, Shepperton, playing their songs live in the studio and putting them to tape. They then moved to the better equipped Parkgate Studios in Sussex to finish the album. The band worked closely and creatively with Becker, and also credited session keyboard player Nick Magnus for significant contributions and realizing ideas they had but could not achieve themselves. Another renewal of the bands sound was Eddie Lundon's use of a guitar synthesizer.[3]
In an article in Electronics & Music Maker magazine just prior to the release of the album, Dan Goldstein noted that "[Eddie Lundon's] playing is only one of many positive points on Flaunt the Imperfection. Other qualities that shine through after only a casual listening are an improvement in the clarity of singer Garry's vocal delivery, a tighter 'band' feel to the playing as a whole and, conversely, a looser, more relaxed atmosphere that must go down to the influence of Becker."[3]
Upon its release the album received several positive reviews. Smash Hits reviewer Ian Cranna found that "mostly it's simply sublime" and "Easily their most consistent and stylish set yet".[5]
Spin wrote, "There are no feigned gestures, showbiz tricks, or overly glossy sound here. China Crisis records lofty and meditative music at the risk of losing its dance-club appeal — something that limits this record's chances of being played by anything but adventurous stations and on college new-wave hours."[6]
Trouser Press noted the influence by Becker's Steely Dan on some songs, but wrote that "it’s far more obviously a refinement of the band’s own style. The lyrical art seems so artless, the musical airiness so effortless; like the first album, it’s almost too subtle for its own good. (Almost.)"[7]
In a retrospective review, Stewart Mason of AllMusic notes that "the group's songwriting is much improved, [with] the failed instrumental experiments and tiresome dance workouts that occasionally marred their earlier albums replaced with a newfound melodic sophistication and lyrical acuity."[8]
Track listing
All tracks written by Gary Daly, Gary Johnson and Eddie Lundon.[9]
