Oakey and Co. make their millennium debut on the Papillion label. the album was produced by Toy (Bomb the Bass, Depeche Mode). The material harkens back to the cutting edges of 'Travelogue' and the pop sensibility of 'Dare'.
Oakey and Co. make their millennium debut on the Papillion label. the album was produced by Toy (Bomb the Bass, Depeche Mode). The material harkens back to the cutting edges of 'Travelogue' and the pop sensibility of 'Dare'.
CD Reviews
The return of the League - all you ever wanted...
Si Wooldridge | Chippenham, Wiltshire England | 09/09/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"So here it is, the return of the Human League. It seems like forever since the release of it's predecessor Octopus, but the League have a tradition of long waits between albums. For most bands this causes problems, but the League seem to have spent the time rather wisely. Critics have given this a lukewarm reception and harken it as a return to the sound of Dare. Sorry, this doesn't go back that far as they have moved on quite a distance from that sound. Although I suppose if you were a typical music hack, it would probably be your only point of reference even though the League have released about 7 proper albums (one of which was the awful Crash whose only redeeming feature was the classic Human).
Returning with essentially the same sound as the last album Octopus, the League have enhanced it with more up-to-date electronic beats and rhythms. As well as the normal 3-4 minute songs, there are a number of shorter tracks that are essentially instrumental soundscapes. Fortunately these do not detract from the overall sound or style of the album and are impressive enough to wonder if a bit more development could have lead to full blown songs. Phil Oakey and the girls do their thing rather well, Phil doing his deep vocals and Suzanne & Jo doing their harmonising. You know exactly what you're getting with this trio and they don't disappoint. Another League tradition is Phils dodgy lyrics and they're here too "You're like that woman out of Species", "You're a cocktail set Atilla, a kind of halcyon guerrilla". Maybe not for the purists, but they fit with the overall message he is trying to get across and the one you can't accuse him of is banality (unlike a lot of modern bands).
Fav tracks: All I Ever Wanted, Shameless, Never Give Your Heart, The Snake & Reflections.
Overall a solid return to form, just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one."
There Is No Justice.
Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 09/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I'd like to thank Philip Oakey personally for creating "Secrets" and for keeping Human League together all these years. The irony of today's music scene is that it now rejects bands like Human League, the very people who paved the way for many of today's acts--at least in America. In Europe, Human League has faired better. It's just a shame that "Secrets", probably the best Human League cd since 1981's "Dare", with the exception of the wonderful 1995 "Octopus" cd. This is how electronic music should be made! 16 tracks with no weak points. I bought Depeche Mode's "Exciter" and it doesn't compare to this! Philip Oakey gives Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure and, yes, even Madonna a good run for their money! I already predict that nothing on "Secrets" will get played on radio or tv, thus another gigantic missed opportunity for Human League to step up to the front and show Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC and the whole hip hop scene how effective synth music can be. I can't believe "All I Ever Wanted", "Love Me Madly?", "Shameless" and "Never Give Your Hear" will not break the Top 40! They're hits! I'm tired of age discrimination in music! This music needs to be heard by the masses! If you like Human League, check out the European only release of the new Roland Orzabal(of Tears For Fears) cd "Tomcats Screaming Outside" it's great too! If you are a true Human League fan you should buy "Secrets" it's very good, and perhaps, just perhaps, more people will follow."
The League are setting trends all over again
freddat | Traverse City, MI USA | 09/08/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I admit I own just about every Human League album and single in their hefty catalog, but I simply have to add my say about their new album "Secrets". As with "Dare", "Secrets" is a groundbreaking album that will set the stage for the next wave of music-making. It is unmistakably League material, but at the same time, it has the unabashed innocence of a band reborn! As if they've rediscovered why they became musicians in the first place. "Secrets" is a synthpop fan's dream come true. It is so amazingly consistant yet delightfully diverse in tempo and style. The overall tone is similar to "Dare" or "Travelogue" - great pop melodies mixed with a healthy dose of attitude and a snear. The production is exquisite - a sonic masterpiece - each sound seems to have found it's rightful place in the sonic spectrum. My personal favorites (I just hate to narrow it down, but...) are "All I Ever Wanted", "Shameless", "Reflections", "Love Me Madly", "You'll Be Sorry", "The Snake" and all those wonderful instrumental bits interwoven into the fabric of this fine pop album. If you've ever enjoyed The Human League, this album will become an immediate favorite!"
HL, where have you been all these years?
Roger Waters | Shakopee, MN United States | 10/14/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was a huge League fan back in the 80s - like many others, Dare was one of my favorite albums of that decade. In all honesty, I thought the League was dead and long gone, and I thought that Dare would be just a happy memory of days gone by. Little did I know that the League was alive and kicking, and cranking out music better than ever! I recently stumbled upon Secrets and the first time I listened to it I couldn't believe my ears. This CD is better than Dare overall, at least in my humble opinion. In fact this is far and away the best CD I've heard all year...not a bad or even a so-so song on the whole CD! I can't remember the last time I liked every song on a CD! If you're a League fan I recommend that you run to the store and get a copy, you won't be disappointed."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1