|
20/12/04
Before we hibernate to avoid festive overkill and the expectedly
dreary Eastenders Christmas special, here's one final gift for you
in the form of rather innovative update of Travelogue track 'Dreams
of Leaving' from the ones to
watch: The Audacity.
With added samples from Love Action & improved percussion to
enhance it's dancibility, this mix is a fairly radical re-working
compared to last week's more conventional extended version of 'Do
or Die' (which has so far been downloaded by 1500 readers!).
Broadband is recommended should you choose to download this mp3
of sonic delight.
Download
Dreams of Leaving 2004 Audacity Mix here (file size: 12.000
MB)
Note: This
mix is provided for non-commercial use to promote The Human League
and is copyright protected by the holders EMI/Virgin.
(With many thanks to James Hardiman)
Thoughts and comments about this new mix can be sent direct to the
band at: mathew.stephens@lycos.co.uk
Many of the League's old albums are available
at bargain budget prices, some of which are digitally remastered.
If you have enjoyed the free mp3's made available through this site,
please support the band by purchasing the albums via the links opposite.
Holiday
Catastrophic Windows
XP crash on my main system and I've had to bring back out of retirement
an ancient Pentium 2 which makes updating Secrets Online almost
impossible this side of Christmas (it is painfuly slow).
At some point in the new year I shall be travelling to Brasil for
a few weeks to flee the British winter (I'm working all through
Christmas to pay for it). So if any Brasilian readers of the site
can offer advice and tips etc about where to go - then I would love
to hear from you via the email addy below.
This update has been constructed whilst listening to The
Golden Age of Wireless by Thomas Dolby. An underrated yet highly
sophisticated early 80's electronic album.
More recent albums that have been on the Secrets Online playlist
of 2004 that some of you may love and cherish include:
Bjork - Medulla
(breathtakingly beautiful)
Morrisey - You
Are the Quarry (easily his best work since 'Everyday is Like
Sunday' - it should have won the Mercury Award)
The Killers - Hot
Fuss (America's finest band with a sound that owes much to early
80's new wave and the odd U2 hook - highly recommended)
Franz Ferdinand - Franz
Ferdinand (another highly memorable debut full of new wave hooks
- the opening track 'Jacqueline'
should've been a single)
U2 - How
To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb (perhaps not quite as ground breaking
as Achtung Baby or Zooropia but this album is still full of potential
foot tapping singles)
Depeche Mode - Remixes
'81 - '04: 2CD Edition (proof if proof were needed of just how
far ahead of the pack DM have always been. The main event of 2005
will surely be the new DM album).
Amy Winehouse - Frank
(Not to be confused with bland wannabies such as Norah Jones, Katie
Melua & Joss Stone - Amy's debut contains great lyrics with
tracks that take no victims, fantastic voice too).
orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com
18/12/04
Following on from the universal praise sent to the site regarding
the 2004 tour, UK broadsheet The Guardian have now added a great
review of the Shepherds Bush Empire concert to their online site
which requires registration.
Awarding the gig 4 out of 5 stars, here is the review in it's entirety:
Nobody under 25 will appreciate the pain of seeing the Human League
on the Christmas circuit. Shouldn't they leave this kind of thing
to lesser 80s rivals while they fade into dignified obscurity? Though
the League's axis - sonorous baritone Phil Oakey and ever-foxy sidekicks
Joanne Catherall and Susanne Sulley - look and sound better than
they did at their electro-pop peak, their younger selves would have
recoiled at the idea of prancing in the name of nostalgia.
The League reunited as a touring act seven years ago, and have spent
the time buffing up their show. If old romantics are to claim a
share of the live market, it may as well be this bunch - with their
beautifully plinky synthesisers and female-led choruses - as this
was the best example I've seen of the burgeoning revival genre.
I even found myself snuffling during The Lebanon, as the girls,
deadpan as ever, crooned implausibly about "1969, before the
soldiers came".
 Money
had been invested in 80s stage decor: white sci-fi keyboards, metal
arches criss-crossing the stage and coordinated clothes (black for
Oakey, red and white for the women). Back then, this look was known
as "futurism". Twenty years on, it felt mistily retro,
priming the crowd for 90 minutes of greatest hits, with the emphasis
on "great".
With one of pop's best back catalogues at their disposal, the League
were all killer, no filler. Despite attempts to update some songs
- statistics about the Iraq war scrolled down a screen during Heart
Like a Wheel - they primarily did what they were paid to do.
Sulley, a key figure of many men's formative
years, was, of course, wailed at during Don't You Want Me? She came
close to stealing the show, but Oakey - still handsome and lugubrious
- wrested it back during a double whammy of Love Action and (Keep
Feeling) Fascination. The only option, really, was to enjoy it.
(Text © Caroline Sullivan / The Guardian 2004)
Anna Pestka also attended the
SBE gig and took time to provide the site with the following review:
 You
did say this was going to be one of the best ones and you were not
wrong.
It's a shame that your job prevented you from going :(
It was a full house, and my security warning was unfounded as they
only confiscated a few phones and lots of peeps got away with taking
a few snaps - good for them!
The set was pretty
much the same as St Albans apart from Susan belting out 'Just Be
Good to Me'. And she did state that "five hours ago a doctor
told me that I couldn't go on stage for 2 days as I'm ill, but I
couldn't let you down could I?". She certainly didn't with
that blinding performance.
There were a few
minor glitches with the sequencer and the drums but Phil's wit got
around that one.
Two encores as well, which were
well deserved.
I have seen The
League many times over the years and they just get better with age.
In fact I hope I look as good as Susan in my early 40's.
Truly inspirational, so much so
that I am taking lessos in Cubase and sequencing from January. I
shall be their next support act on the next tour!!!
Keep up the good work Orac!
(All SBE
pics including setlist have been kindly provided by Jodts
Franky)
Philip has apparently mentioned twice now during one gig and to
fans backstage that Martyn Ware
is currently planning to remix the League's debut album 'Reproduction'
presumably for Virgin. We don't know much more than that as we are
somewhat out of the loop but I figure that something like this could
be confirmed over at the official H17 website during the coming
months.
orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com
14/12/04
 Secrets
Online managed to creep away from the PC Sunday night in order to
get one final fix of The Mighty League live in 2004.
Braving an arctic chill not too dissimilar to that witnessed in
blockbuster CGI cartoon 'The Day After
Tomorrow', the Secrets Online 'team' (Orac and digital camera
expert Ian Macey) drove down to Southampton.
Upon arriving in the surprisingly clean and modern looking city
center, it soon became clear that neither of us had entertained
the notion that it may have been a good idea to check both the name
and actual location of the venue.
'Didn't you check the site?' I
was asked.
'What site??'
(Southampton image: Rob Barton superb on drums, Susan in stylish
dress and master sound engineer db captured by Andy Sturmey)
This went on for a while whilst we both struggled to remember the
name of the venue. Several drives through the town center later,
we both decided that it was probably called Guildhall (possibly).
We notice a large group of people walking towards something - and
when we asked if they were local and knew where this venue was not
only were they going but one proudly spoke that iconic band title:
'The Human League'.
Panic over, we then found a free parking space (none of that here
in Ascot!) and walked to the Guildhall.
After picking up the tickets kindly arranged by db, I was immediately
struck at how packed this fairly large venue was and the support
act hadn't even started.
We hit the bar. Two pints quite reasonably priced. Nice.
There were a few League tour posters on the walls. It still seems
slightly surreal to see the website addy of Secrets Online underneath
the dates on those posters but a nice moment to actually see them
inside a real venue.
Joanne joked at Reading: 'Secrets
Online? C'mon...we all know that it only has 11 readers!'
(me, my mum, a few mates from my local pub, the ledgendary Jo Callis
& Martin Rushent : ) ).
Trademark entered onto the stage.
I must admit that this band were pretty much off my radar before
Sunday night but credit to them, the standing area must have been
more than three quarters full and they were given a great reception.
Their dress sense seemed a little obvious at first (lab coats) but
later in their set their arms began to glow - illuminated by little
flashing pea lights that was visually impressive. More importantly
though, their music was pretty instant and they grabbed my attention
with some very catchy songs that went down well with the audience.
One track in particular towards the end had an excellent and very
memorable vocal chorus - a song which I would love to hear again.
On the strength of this performance, their hybrid analogue sound
of early DM coupled with some of the of more edgier Pet Shop Boys
tracks should ensure that they win over many more on the remaining
dates of this 2004 tour.
(You can visit Trademark's official site by clicking here).
As Trademark's minimalist set was removed, it proved impossible
for us to get closer to the stage - it was completely packed so
we had to make do with standing some distance away from the stage
in the middle of the venue.
As the opening bars of a newly remixed 'Mirror
Man' blasted out from
the massive speaker system (what fantastic bass!), the crowd were
already getting into it. I looked behind me and was pleased to see
that the seated area right at the back on the top balcony was also
packed. A full house and plenty of noise to greet the dramtic fall
of the curtain (nice throwback to DM's definitive Devotional
tour) as Mirror Man really kicks in and the band all look perfect
swathed in various shades of neon blues before a stunning backdrop
and nifty stage design.
Having seen them two weeks previously at Reading, I was able to
notice more of the back projections.
Highly effective especially with regards to when 'Heart
Like A Wheel' is performed. Disturbing facts on the war in
Iraq (that are rarely mentioned on your national news channels especially
those within the so-called 'Coalition of The Willing') scroll past
during the entire song. It ends with a radiant looking US flag and
for me it was one of the gig's many high points.
The following link was displayed on the back projection thankyoutony.com
It is obvious from the word go that so much thought and planning
has gone into this tour both sonically and visually. The bass is
superb all the way through.
Hearing the League perform a new cover was a very special moment
and I was transfixed. Secrets
was now released over three years ago and I was about to hear some
new League backing and this particular musical arrangement on the
Jam & Lewis track 'Just
Be Good To Me' didn't disappoint. It contained elements of
Romantic with the added sheen
of a Jam & Lewis Crash session.
Beautifully programmed.
With gorgeous electro bass, Susan took center stage to sing it perfectly.
My expectations were raised after reading emails about it sent to
the site and the track was perfection lapped up by the crowd who
loved it.
I'm quite tempted to champion it as a future League single with
a few Richard X mixes on the CD
single - imagine that...
In a further nod to those legendary Minneapolis producers, Just
Be Good To Me morphs perfectly into the next track and US number
One: 'Human'.
Susan and Joanne are sounding fantastic and they are both pitch
perfect during Human (which I imagine is a very difficult song to
sing).
I was lucky enough to meet Philip a few weeks
ago and there was something I was determined to tell him but as
what often happens, I go off on a tangent and always end up talking
about Cybermen.
I wanted to talk to him about his voice. One of the things that
makes seeing the League live here in 2004 such a great experience
is that unlike some of my other favourite artists such as Dave
Gahan, Philip's voice simply hasn't changed. It is still
as it was back in 1981. When the band band perform tracks like Dare
stomper 'Open Your Heart' - Phil's
vocal performance still matches those old recordings.
Have I told any of you how much I rate Romantic's 'The
Stars Are Going Out'? I know that the audience doesn't go
as wild for it as they do with the hits but I absolutely love it
musically and lyrically. A very touching song that means just as
much to me now as it did back during 1990 which was a bleak time
for the band.
Great though to see the band in their element, enjoying themselves
here in 2004 and performing that track in happier times to a great
and vibrant crowd in Southampton.
(With many thanks
to db)
Do wish the tour was longer. My daytime job involves useless shifts
that only leaves me with the weekends free so do keep your tour
reviews and comments coming in to:
secretsonline@f2s.com
Tonight's gig at the Shepherds Bush
Empire promises to be special. Grab the few remaining tickets
by calling - 0870 771 2000 / 020 7403
3331
And to round of this bumper update at 3.52am
in the morning, some rather kind words from Tom France in the UK:
Hi Orac
Only when I saw
your picture with Martin Rushant did I realise I was standing next
to you at Reading a couple of weeks ago.I would have come and said
hello had I realised at the time.
The web site is a credit to you and the band, (keep up the good
work). The information, news and feedback is a must for any League
fan, of which I have been one for near enough all their career.
So far I have seen them at Reading, St.Albans, last night at Southhampton,
S.B. tomorrow and finally Birmingham on Sunday. All the reviews
have been 100%. The only comment I can add is that there are many
bands around today old and new who would do well to go along and
see how it should be done, it doesn't get any beter than THL live.
Very best wishes to you (and the band if you get a chance to pass
them on).
Cheers Tom :)
orac
12/12/04
The League brought their acclaimed live show to Orac's parent's
home city Liverpool last night in the week that Liverpool FC secured
a famous victory in the Champions League thanks in part to a wonder
goal from Stevie G (ain't no way he's going to Chelski!).
Neil Roberts sent in some superb images from the Liverpool gig including
the two featured with this update.
Friday's Kop gig was described as 'out
of this world' by Neil Roberts
who went on to reveal that the League had two encores whilst the
cover version sung by Susan was also featured within an impressive
setlist that was slightly altered from previous concerts in the
'04 tour.
For the benefit of readers abroad the cover that has been given
the unique League treatment is the 1983 SOS
Band classic 'Just
Be Good To Me' (written by Crash
producers Jam & Lewis),
and by all accounts, the League cover sounds superb.
(A remastered recording of 'Just Be Good To Me' is available on
The
SOS Band Greatest Hits)
Dean Williams caught the band performing in Manchester Wednesday
night and he wrote in with these comments:
'Well, as a long time fan of the
League (10th time live), can I just say the Newcastle gig last night
was fantastic.
It's true what everyone is saying - the sound quality this time
was superb, crisp, deep (and even), well it is Christmas.
The girls look great, and Phil for the first time in a while kept
his voice all the way through!!
How fantastic is that cover version? - one of my favourite songs
of all time anyway, but to hear my favourite band of all time do
it - bliss.. it should be a single but no doubt will remain one
of those "live favourites" that never see the light of
day.
The Laague really need to record some new work - and not have a
record company go bust on them etc .... they are a formidable band
and I am proud to be one of the loyal followers, Long Live the League!!!!'
The League head on down
to Southampton's The Guildhall tonight
- last minute tickets can be
snapped up by ringing - 023 8063
2601
Ian Macey has contacted the site with news of a promising new CH4
show that will feature the best albums ever recorded:
'Channel 4 UK TV Station is asking
its viewers to cast their votes on the greatest albums ever made.
Among the nominees
are Human League with their timeless classic 'Dare'
from 1981. Get voting now by clicking here.
The site also gives
you the chance to vote for 10 albums from a shortlist of 125, plus
you can suggest other favourites that don't appear in the list (Flock
of Seagulls Gt Hits, Dr
Who & The
Sea Devils Original Soundtrack
etc).
The results will be announced in a future
programme on Channel Four that will no doubt last about five hours
over a cold winter weekend shortly before the brand new series of
Doctor Who
starts on March 5 2005.'
Pah! No Depeche
Mode in the nominations??! No
ABC
'Lexicon Of Love' either and is 'Debut'
really Bjork's
finest solo album compared to the likes of 'Vespertine'
& 'Medulla'
and if Michael Jackson is included...why no Gary Glitter??
No matter... - just *go* and vote Dare
plus nine others (but dear God please avoid the Dire Straits nominee).
Remaining tour dates include:
Mon 13 Ipswich,
Regent - 01473 433 100
Tue 14 London,
Shepherds Bush Empire - 0870 771
2000 / 020 7403 3331
Thu 16 Cambridge,
Corn Exchange - 01223 357 851
Fri 17 Aberystwyth
Arts Centre - 01970 - 623 - 232
Sat 18 Bristol,
Academy - 0870 771 2000
Sun 19
Birmingham,
Academy - 0870 771 2000
Secrets Online is a non-profit
making site, maintained, updated and polished in Orac's spare time.
If you enjoy the site and would like to make a voluntary contribution
towards online costs simply click on the paypal icon below. All
help is greatly appreciated.
orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com
08/12/04
 Secrets
Online has been handed a stunning mix of a classic Dare
track last week from new band The
Audacity. Paying homage to the
old extended mixes of the past, The Audacity's mix of Do
or Die clocks in at 7.30 minutes
but never outstays it's welcome.
Do or Die is a myriad recording, awash with hook lines that could
all be standalone hooks on any other record. This 2004 mix manages
to draw the listener in to all of them with added purcussion and
dub effects.
Crisp additional production by The Audacity will encourage you all
to have this high quality mp3 blasting out of your speakers within
seconds of downloading.
Enjoy!
Download Do or Die 2004 Audacity Mix here (file size: 10.4 MB)
(Note: This mix is provided for
non-commercial use to promote The Human League and is copyright
protected by the holders EMI/Virgin. Please support the band by
purchasing official releases via the HL album links opposite).
The Audacity will soon be releasing their debut album 'How
Dare You' - a raw and edgy collection
of songs concerning text messaging from stalkers, bus drivers in
love on rough council estates, secret agents forgetting their passwords
and the starkness of inner city life but all delivered within catchy
melodies.
If The League Of Gentlemen
were to release an electro pop album - it would sound something
like 'How Dare You'.
The Audacity will be at the League gig in Birmingham on December
19th handing out free sampler CDs of the new album so try to grab
one of those.
More info can be found by clicking here
and more mixes will be available shortly.
(With many thanks to
James Hardiman)
Thoughts and comments about this new mix can be sent direct to the
band at: mathew.stephens@lycos.co.uk
More of your tour comments and pics coming tomorrow.
orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com
05/12/04
The site has received some fabulous pics from last night's gig in
Leicester which were kindly sent in by Mike Broadhurst.
All three tour photos have been uploaded to the site in their full
glory, (simply click on any of the three images opposite to access
the large versions).
Mike also sent us his thoughts regarding the latest Human League
gig which featured a revised set list (contains no spoilers):
'This was the 2nd time I've seen
the League live, the first being the Here and Now Tour back in 2002.
This gig was absolutely fantastic, 1hr 20mins just flew by, I just
wish it went on longer. It was good to hear some of the early material,
Empire State Human being
my all time favourite, right up to All
I Ever Wanted which is an under-rated
classic League track.'
'Curiously,
Phil announced that his Dad came from Hinckley, where I live, his
Mum lived in Nuneaton and he was born in Leicester which got a big
cheer!! Looking forward to next year, especially with some new material
in the pipeline and I hope they do another tour - it can't come
soon enough!!!
Kudos to you for running such a great HL website.'
Steve B and Phil Wood
were also impressed by the League's performance last night in
Leicester including new convert Andy Vickers who wrote in with this
verdict;
'Not having been interested in
The Human League at all before last week i tagged along with my
girlfriend to the concert, lets just say I'm now a fan. The sound
quality was superb, they looked and sounded great and there wasn't
one song I didnt love!
I just didnt want the night to end, its just a shame I was a bit
too young to appreciate them in the 80s, a big thanks to The Human
League for a great night and for making suberb music thats better
than a lot of the crap in the charts today.'
(Andy Vickers)
'Just back from the gig in Leicester
(the birth place of Philip he proudly announced) and the League
were superb. A great mix of songs - some I have never heard live
before. Susan, Joanne and Philip all looked stunning and the crowd
loved it. They just get better and better - THE most influential
band ever!!'
(Steve "Being Boiled " in Leicester)
'They were simply brilliant. Me
and my wife were close to the stage right in front of Susan which
was great for me (lets face it - there's a gal who looks better
now than she did 20 years ago!).'
(Phil Wood)
Similar praise from Darren
H in Taunton who attented the Pavilions concert in Plymouth Friday
night:
'I was there, I was proud to be
there, the performance was excellent, the sound was crisp.
Phil and the girls seemed to be enjoying it us much as us.
Jo looked really HOT in little black outfits!
It really was an exceptional night out.
I think I will have to see them again in Bristol on the 18th'
And finally,
Mark & Hannah sent
in their thoughts of the Bradford gig a few days back together with
a pic of when they meet the mighty Sheffy trio after the show:
 'What
a fantastic night we had watching the League in Bradford on Wednesday!
The last time we saw them at St Georges Hall was 9 years ago &
they just get better every time! Everything from the set & lighting
down to the playlist and the ever present `electric` atmosphere
that Phil & the girls just seem to be able to create on every
occasion!
Just to add to the brilliant night that was had by all... we met
them after the show when they signed our programmes & chatted
to us fellow northerners like we had known each other for years!
Our photos and memories will be with us forever and we can't wait
for the next tour to roll into town!'
Mark & Hannah (pictured either side of Philip) & forum contributers
Rob Grillo (far left) & Manny Grillo (with Joanne wrapped around
him).
Huge thanks to everyone
who has written in with reviews and pics - keep them coming to secretsonline@f2s.com
02/12/04
 Secrets
Online celebrated it's third birthday on October 17th and just as
we were about to party with a few gifts and cake, the site got disconnected
from the Internet for several weeks.
In that time, the League's David
Beevers very kindly gathered
a few prizes during rehersals and we have two large 2004 tour posters
to give away and both have been signed by Philip,
Susan
& Jo
(pictured opposite - Dalek not included :)).
If you would like to win one of the posters then simply send your
full name with the header 'Poster Comp' to secretsonline@f2s.com
Closing date is January 2nd 2005 (no multiple entries).
Reactions to last night's gig at St Georges Hall have began to reach
us including this from Nigel Mills who also sent in a great collage
below:
'The Human League never cease to amaze me. Every tour they do they
just sound even better.If I could invent a new word that would mean
more than the words that people have used to describe them I would.
An absolutely stunning, beautiful, excellent night at St.George’s
Hall in Bradford. The music, vocals, programming, lighting, set-list
and performance put together to confirm in my opinion what I already
knew, that The Human League really are the best band there has ever
been….'
The League play at the
Pavilions in Plymouth this Friday and last minute tickets can be
purchased by calling - 01752 229
922
Keep all your tour comments coming
in to the email address above.
Coming shortly: The Audacity's 2004 remix of Dreams Of Leaving.
Site stats:
Last month, Secrets Online attracted 21,000
unique visits (almost half of that total for the news page) making
November 2004 the busiest month the site has ever had.
To catch up on all your 2004 tour comments
& pics so far plus read up on all of November's Human League
news - please click here.
|
