31/12/03

Tsunami Earthquake Appeal



As harrowing accounts and shocking pictures continue to dominate world news, aid agencies are desperate for cash donations to help all those effected.



If you would like to donate - please take time to visit The Disasters Emergency Committee by clicking here.
Amazon.com have also set up an easy to use 'one-click' service that enables you to make donations (including important details on how those in the UK can ensure that the Inland Revenue doesn't get a single penny).
This Amazon service can be reached here.

26/12/03

Q Magazine and Mojo team up for electropop special




Secrets Online received an email from Q Magazine yesterday who have been busy at work putting together a collaborative special along with Mojo entitled 'Depeche Mode & The Story of Electropop' - the latest addition to their acclaimed Special Editions (the most recent being a superbly researched 2-Tone/ The Specials issue).
The Electropop Special features two new features on the mighty League covering the band's entire career that includes new interviews with Philip Oakey, Martyn Ware & Ian Craig Marsh plus in-depth reviews of the albums that were instrumental in bringing this genre to a wider audience: Reproduction and Dare.
Other highlights include a major new interview with the ground breaking Depeche Mode who are the cover stars along with Philip.
Kraftwerk, New Order and David Bowie also take center stage in this highly promising publication whilst other acts covered include OMD, Pet Shop Boys, Ultravox, Soft Cell & Japan.


50 of the essential electronic albums and songs are reviewed and rated and this must-have special hits UK newsagents on January 14th 2005.

To see a large version of the cover - please reach out and click on dm.

(With many thanks to Mark Blake at Q/Mojo)


Remix & site feedback


Our recent free Audicty mix of Travelogue gem Dreams of Leaving seems to have gone down well especially with Derek who emailed us to say:

'Just a line to say thanks for another GREAT mix (Audacity), Do Or Die was brill but this is the dogs.... Keep up the good work this really is a brilliant site.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL INVOLVED.'

Jason Parker also sent in these kind comments:

Great site. I saw the HL at Birmingham on the last night of the tour and they were (again) great. Very impressed by Trademark too. Thanks for keeping us all up-to-date with the news. Particularly excited by the idea of Martyn remixing Reproduction. This plus the new H17 album coming out in the Spring (at last) would make for a good 2005. Fingers crossed.

Keep up the good work!

P.S. Should I really be sat at my computer at this time on Christmas Day...? Worth it to hear the Dreams of Leaving remix ;-)





Those new to the site can 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.
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.



2004 Tour pics






Simon White took some very stylish pics of Sunday's concert that have since been used by the BBC on their regional Birmingham website. To view the full sized versions, simply click on Simon's image opposite.

The BBC also have a review of the gig that can be read here.

We don't get nearly enough pics of the gorgeous Joanne so to address the balance, here's a backstage shot kindly sent in by Dave Knight.


To view more of Dave's backstage shots with The Mighty Trio and infamous Secrets Massive - click on Jo.

orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com

21/12/04

Birmingham

The League's acclaimed 2004 tour drew to a close on Sunday night and we've kicked our Pentium 2 back into action to air some of your comments.

Dean Jackson sent us his thoughts including a few great snaps:

The human league are like a fine wine and just keep getting better with age. I took my nine year old daugter to see them at the final concert of this years tour in Birmingham last night, shes been listening to the albums since she was born, and what a night.

(click on image opposite for panoramic League)

I can only back up every other review that has appeared here, it was my 4th time seeing the band over the years and was definitely the best yet.

The sound was immense and crystal clear, the set was simple, showing that the bands talent is strong enough that they don't have to hide, and the look on my daughter's face when when the first "ooh ooh ooh's of Mirror Man shone out was worth the past 25 years of devotion.

And to top it off, the band did their regular signing after the gig. (You tell me another band that regularity meets their fans after a gig to chat and sign autographs. What a great way of saying thank you to all of the fans.) And the sheer excitement of my daughter when Susan asked her to sit on her lap for a photograph, well words failed me.

A great bunch of people, with great talents. Thank you Human League, you made an old and a nine year old fan very happy.

A lot of bands could learn a lot from the Human League!


(Second image: a rare shot of the entire band backstage including Dean and young League fan Nicole)

Dave Knight also enjoyed the end-of-tour-show:


Just a quick note before going to sleep, fantastic concert in Brum and have uploaded my pics that have come out, there is a nice one of the 'massive' that isn't blurry most of the rest are :( But wow superb concert, all the bands voices were strong and superb, no flus could be heard :) and all seemed to have a fantastic time on-stage as we were off-stage! Met the Secrets Massive for the first time after the gig and all were very
welcoming, thanks especially BlackHairedGirl!, then waited in the cold and met the band too, superb!!

There is ringing in my ears still (I was in front of the speaker stack!) -- but best gig of theirs, audience were lapping it up too, all were enjoying it and the 1 1/2 hours disappeared all too quickly - can't wait for next year!!'




Live 2005 plus new material?

According to reports posted in the forum and comments during the tour from the League's manager Simon Watson, it looks like the band will be headlining The Wave Gotik Treffen Festival in Leipzig in May. The exact date doesn't appear to have been decided yet but we will hopefully have more details in the coming weeks.
The festival website can be reached by clicking here.



The band are now off on vacation for the next two months before returning to the studio to begin recording the anticipated follow-up to 2001's Secrets. No details on producers but rumours abound that some very important record company execs were backstage at the recent SBE gig though one can't really read to much into that.
Susan first mentioned the possibilty of new material last month to the BBC during an interview with Philip later confirming the plans during the 2004 tour.




Catch up on 2004 tour reviews, stunning live pics, the poster comp and all the usual orac waffle by visiting the December news archive here.

orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com