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 A
new millennium and it's apocalyptic fears of computers crashing
thankfully fails to materialise and begins just like just like any
other and the Human League agree to a new album deal with major
record label Chrysalis. No accompanying media fanfare or internet
gossip results in this long awaited deal going unnoticed by most
fans as the band begin work on the belated follow-up to Octopus
in April. With the nucleus of Oakey, Catherall and Sulley still
intact - the recording sessions would include full time contributions
from Neil Sutton and David Beevers.
Artistic difficulties had led to the departure of Ian
Stanley a few years earlier and Chrysalis agree to expand
the recording budget of the new album in order for Phil to enlist
the services of Toy. This production
team included Dave Clayton and
'Q' - two seasoned session musicians
who had considerable input on DM's difficult comeback album 'Ultra'
back in 1997.
Demos and sessions with Robin Hancock that included titles such
as New Start, Nervous & SH-5 would all be given radical treatments
with major changes to both the lyrics and melody structures under
the guidance of TOY.
During the summer, Chrysalis revealed on one of their websites that
they had signed the League but within a month the band were removed
prompting fears amongst amodest online community of HL fans that
something had gone horribly wrong.
In December, March Records released one
of the first Human League tribute albums entitled 'Reproductions'.
This 16 track effort was a mixed affair but one notable cover of
'Open Your Heart' by Ladytron
managed to create some interest for this new electronic band who
would later become NME darlings.
Towards the end of 2000, it became apparent that the League had
in fact signed to a small label called Papillion - home to Hooky's
side project Monoco. Owned by the larger label Chrysalis - a new
website reveals that Papillion has been created to provide a 'home
for established artists with a proven track record'.
Industry insiders revealed that the League had finished several
tracks and that the new material had received the thumbs-up from
those who had heard the recording sessions. Former Depeche Mode
producer Dave Bascombe was involved with the new album (Dave had
produced Mode's American breakthrough album 'Music For The Masses').
The new album is tentatively given a release date for March 2001
according to Chrysalis.
2001
As the wait for the new Papillon album continued, attention was
diverted to a new bootleg by Girls On
Top that began to appear on the file sharing service Napster.
Entitled 'Being Scrubbed', the
tracks mixed the instrumental of the Fast version of Being Boiled
with the vocals of TLC's 1999
hit 'No Scrubbs'. This unlikely
combination quickly gained the attention of Radio One and NME who
both nominated this independent release as their 'Single Of The
Week'. With a press run of just 1000 vinyl copies containing a similar
B-side mixing Kraftwerk with Whitney
Houston, this single would go on to spawn the entire 'booty'
movement and would itself become a unique single. Philip Oakey was
hugely impressed and very flattered by the single and would later
describe how 'Being Scrubbed' had a 'musicality' all of it's own.
The success of 'Being Scrubbed' would eventually lead it's creator
and self-confessed Human League fan Richard
X into signing a record deal with major label Virgin.
A wave of new electronic artists mainly
from the US and the growing popularity of electronic music in general
seemed to suggest that 2001 could be the perfect year for a new
League release. News of the 'electroclash' movement headed by the
New York concept act Fischerspooner
reaches the UK media with a sound that evokes memories of the harsher
but direct no-frills sound of 1981. Fischerspooner's underground
track 'Emerge'
quickly gathered rave reviews whilst the former French model Miss
Kitten released her own brand
of saucy retro-electro with memorable tracks such as '1982'
and 'Frank Sinatra'.
The most notable release however came from NY DJ Felix
Da Housecat whose album 'Kittenz And Thee Glitz' on the City
Rockers label effortlessly infected the clubs of Europe whilst picking
up glowing reviews. With collaborations including Miss Kitten, this
seminal album also featured the track Harlot
that including an uncredited drum pattern sample from 'The
Sound Of The Crowd'.
In an issue of Mixmag dated April 2005, Felix praises the League
sample: 'I sampled a beat from
The Human League for 'Harlot'
the beat was amazing but Philip Oakey spotted it. Luckily he didn't
sue!"
Felix also compiled the free CD compilation given away with the
magazine that included 'The Sound of The Crowd'.
This track in particularly began linking the Human League to the
electroclash movement by those who instantly recognised the sample
citing Philip and the girls as major innovators something that the
UK music press quickly endorsed.
Mentions of the League continued in the early part of 2001 with
the release of Ladytron's
debut 604
who would also later collaborate with Felix. 604 received endless
comparisons with the early League sound and despite covering Open
Your Heart a few months earlier,
Ladytron would later distance themselves from the League famously
claiming that they were never fans. To their annoyance, the League
comparisons would continue to haunt them.
In March Australian fansite Hysteria reported
that the new League album was completed and currently being remastered.
The site also revealed that the album was 'heavily synthesized'
with that classic League trademark of catchy hooks. After a campaign
to try and become the Human League's official site, Hysteria goes
offline for a re-launch - never to return.
In the UK - Channel 4 screened a 'Top Ten
Of Electropop' and the League featured at number 4 based on the
amount of weeks spent in the UK charts. The show featured a new
interview with Phil and the girls in the Human League studio plus
insights from Dare producer Martin Rushent
who commented on his creative but turbulent time with the League.
The League segment also featured former League members Ian
Craig Ware & Martin Ware
of Sheffield's other band of innovators: Heaven
17. Marsh admitted that he wrote the 1983 hit Temptation
(later included on the soundtrack of Danny
Boyle's classic film of 1996 Trainspotting)
as a way of getting back at Oakey's success with the new-look League.
Despite the venom of the original split, both parties were now back
on talking terms with Ian making frequent visits to the League's
studio.
In late April an employee of Papillon caved
in to fan pressure on the Artist Direct forum and announced that
the new Human League single would be released in June. The new Papillon
website then revealed details of the first Human League single since
the 1996 hit
'Stay With Me Tonight'.
'All I Ever Wanted' would
be released on two CD singles with extended mixes, the promo video
and a brand new B-side that would not feature on the album. A three
track sampler featuring AIEW, Never Give
Your Heart and Love Me Madly
would soon end up on Ebay and fetch over £70 quickly followed
by the entire album now titled 'Secrets'. Fans lucky enough to get
promos of the new album were quick to give it the thumbs up and
there was a feeling amongst the internet community that Secrets
represented the finest League album since Dare.
As interest in the League seemed to be on the rise, it was reported
that former band member Jo Callas
had sold the publishing rights of his League tracks to The
Ministry Of Sound who would then presumably use samples in
forthcoming mixes. Some confusion would arise over the deal though
ultimately it would not effect Virgin's overall control of League
recordings from 1981 - 1984.
Shifting release dates for the irresistibly catchy 'All I Ever Wanted'
prompted worries from some that Papillon may have been having problems.
There was little in the way of promotion for the single and as the
League premiered 'All I Ever Wanted' live at the Astoria
for a rare PA, Philip admited that he had no idea what week the
single will be released.
To make matters worse both Radio 1 & 2 refused to playlist the
single. Alex Jones-Donnely, head of music programming for BBC Radio
1 stuck the knife in during a live internet chat claiming that his
audience would not be able to 'connect'
with the League's new single adding that it was too 'retro'.
Jones Donnely would also point the finger at Depeche
Mode describing them as 'insignifant'
and refuses to playlist their new single 'I
Feel Loved' which prompted a furious response from Dave
Gahan. Philip was slightly more reserved during his first
online chat admitting simply that it was their station, 'they can
play what they want'.
Philip was also quick to defend Papillon against criticisms regarding
the lack of promotion revealing that the label had spent much time,
effort and money on the recording of Secrets and it's distinctive
packaging.
Jones Donnely and his Radio 1 team would later make another gaff
by initially refusing to playlist Kylie's
latest offering from the 'Dare inspired'
Fever album. 'Can't Get You Out Of My
Head' . The single goes on to sell over a million copies
in the UK alone. It seemed that Radio One had no interest in the
current electronic movement though they were quick to support American
RnB and manufactured boybands.
Two TV appearences followed for the League, BBC-3's Liquid News
gives the AIEW promo video a rare but deserved airing plus a memorable
20 minute interview with Philip, Susan and Joanne. The band then
went on to perform the new single on Jerry Springer's short-lived
chat show for CH5.
Perhaps spurned on by angry fans angry at the lack of publicity
for AIEW, Papillon splash out on a small advert in the UK's leading
tabloid The Sun but it carries the unfortunate header: 'Don't You
Want Them?'
 AIEW
was finally released on July 23rd in the same week as Mode's second
Exciter single 'I Feel Loved' but it soon became clear that Papillon
lacked the distribution power of the majors. Most stores in the
UK didn't get the single on the crucial first day of release and
many fans reported problems across the country. Despite this, midweek
chart figures had the single down as a hit within the top 30 but
as limited stocks sold out - the single dropped.
The distribution fiasco sealed AIEW's fate and the single limped
into the charts at number 47. AIEW is widely considered to be one
of the League's finest ever singles (though the mixes were sadly
lacklustre and forgettable).
There is no doubt that the single's potential was severely hampered
by Chrysalis' lack of financial support towards it's new label.
The doom and gloom was temporarily lifted
when The Guardian awarded Secrets
'4 out of 5' proclaiming that
the album was 'simply brilliant'.
More stunning reviews followed from the likes of The
Sunday Times, Uncut, Q Magazine, Dotmusic.com & BBCi
- all confirming that Secrets was a creative triumph. It became
the first album since 1981's Dare to be universally praised and
Secrets was finally released
on July 6th complete with stunning packaging and an iconic cover
proving that Papillon could get something right.
However, despite the glowing reviews - that lack of a hit single
sealed Secrets' fate and the album sadly limped into the UK album
charts at number 42.
The album itself was a stunning piece of work. Less poppy that 95's
Octopus but more personal, Secrets was aided by some of the finest
production that moved the sound on from the current 'electro-clashy'
revivial. Containing tracks about eurphoric love, demented obsession
and thoughtful reflection - many regarded Secrets as the album that
should have followed Dare. Skillfully sequenced beyond perfection,
the album also included several instrumentals that are said to chart
the musical evolution of the Human League.
The fact that such a unique album was buried at the final hurdle
hurt many including the band who felt badly let down.
One week later, the BBC gave the League a
belated appearance on TOTP 2 with a pre-recorded performance of
'All I Ever Wanted'.
Fans turn their attention to the next single with hopes that a more
vigorous promotional campaign from Papillon will reverse the fortunes
of Secrets.
In October, webspace owned by the band confirms what many had hoped
for - the first Human League tour of the UK since 1995. Kicking
off in Basingstoke during the final week of November, the thirteen
date tour would include venues such as the Astoria in London and
Sheffield's City Hall. By the end of the month, it becomes clear
that the second single could be delayed as the band try to choose
newly commissioned mixes for 'Love Me Madly'. This is confirmed
in November as news reached new fansite Secrets Online that Papillon
were considering pushing back the release date of the second single
to January 2002 whilst making it a double A-side to include 'Shameless'.
Groove Collision were then comissioned
to work on two mixes of 'Shameless' and they delivered an extended
mix and dub version of the popular Secrets track which Groove recently
described as some of their finest mixes.
Meanwhile, the tour programme for Depeche Mode's Exciter tour included
notes from Andy Fletcher who wrote that the first three League albums
were an influence on DM back in the early 80s.
The Secrets Tour kicked off at the Anvil in Basingstoke,
but after a stunning opening that included Being Boiled and Circus
Of Death, technical problems caused by a faulty hardrive hampered
the opening night. It was a baptism of fire for new League guitarist
Nick Burke whom Philip had spotted out and about in Sheffield earlier
in the year.
Human was severely affected and Phil later dubbed the song as 'machine'.
It was then left to Jo & Sue to answer questions (and the odd
heckler) whilst things were sorted before ending the show on a real
high.
The Astoria
gig proved to be a real highlight free from technical gremlins with
the League providing a very memorable performance. Channel 4's music
text pages describing the show as 'wonderful' before awarding it
9/10 in a review the next day.
It would later be revealed that representatives of Papillon were
attending the shows but leaving before the band could speak to them
due to 'legal' reasons.
Media reports slowly began to reveal that all was not well with
the League's record label and Chrysalis moved to put 'an indefinite'
hold on all future releases...
 Whilst
no new material has been recorded since 2001's Secrets, the band
have managed to refine their live act resulting in an unforgettable
show for the faithful and new converts alike. The League received
plenty of acclaim for their 2003 UK live dates that followed a rare
tour of the US and Australia. Virgin promoters witnessed the League's
show at Sheperds Bush in December 2003 and the band were promptly
booked to appear at the high profile V Festival in August 2004.
the League have already headlined festivals in Chile and Argentina
armed with a back catalogue of famous worldwide hits and the band
were touched by the enthusiasm of the crowds.
The League have just announced an extensive 20-date tour of the
UK which begins in late November.
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