18/02/04

Official Human League Tour Merchandise

Firebrand have informed the site that they have limited stocks of official Human League merchandise left over from the 2003 UK tour. Items available include Stig's stylish tour programme, black mouse mats with the HL VBO design on plus various desirable t-shirts featuring THL logo though some sizes are now sold out.
Firebrand have an online ordering service and it only takes a minute to register your details so we urge those outside of the UK to get those orders in quickly whilst stocks last.
To place your orders, simply click here.

(With thanks to Paul)


Tobbe of Romo Night has today contacted Secrets O with news that an English version of www.romonight.com with full details of the next HL PA in Sweden will appear shortly.

17/02/04

New Live Date Confirmed

A Swedish club called 'Romo Night' in Gothenburg has released details of a new Human League gig on April 30th, the first in Sweden since the Octopus era.
The news has appeared on a Swedish site promoting the club and David Beevers has this morning confirmed the 'one-off PA' revealing that it was all agreed upon as recently as yesterday.
Secrets Online became aware of the live date whilst checking referral hits to the site and it seems that this web page had only just gone live late last night.
A Swedish fan has done a quick translation of the site for us which reads:

'We are immensely proud to present one of the biggest bands through the years on Romo Night's stage.

Please note! The only gig in the Nordic region.
Tickets are released Friday the 20th of February
Price: 300 SEK
The evening offers dance, party and PARTY!
Very welcome to a spectacular night.

More info will follow.'

The 'Romo Night' site can be visited here and db will have more details shortly.

Love Action (Unplugged)

News of an unlikely cover version of the League classic Love Action has reached the site courtesy of Colin Riley whose band The Homemade Orchestra have just released an album featuring new jazz interpretations of well known songs.

Entitled 'Inside Covers' and released on the band's own label, Colin reveals that this 'new and unusual' cover version of Love Action has been 'arranged for strings, clarinet, piano, bass and drums' with vocals provided by Kathleen Willison. Other tracks given the jazz treatment include George Michael's 'Careless Whisper' and The Beatles 'Paperback Writer'.
Secrets O hasn't heard this new jazz version yet, but to quote
The Fast Show's Louis Balfour; 'nice!'.

For more details on the Inside Covers album, please click here.

Discuss Human League news over at the Secrets forum > > > >

orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com

11/02/04

Sounds Of The League




UK magazine Computer Music this month has a detailed four page feature which descibes in some detail how to replicate the early analogue sound of The Human League. Find out League secrets with this technical step-by-step guide and possibly go on to record the next Dare(?)


A 1981 snap of Philip, Jo & Sue makes up some of the cover opposite and should be available in most branches of WHSmiths etc.


Fans outside of the UK can purchase this League related issue online by visiting the Computer Music website.

Live sessions recorded for the BBC back in 1978 will get another airing on 14/02/03 as part of BBC-6's Dream Ticket. The digital station's 'New Romantic' day also includes live tracks from the likes of Sparks and Japan. More details on this celebration of electronic music and the Blitz club can be found here.

(With thanks to Christian in Canada)

orac - contact - secretsonline@f2s.com

07/02/04





Win Set Of Promo CD League Mixes!

Secrets Online has one ultra-rare set of Virgin CD promos to give away this month. Containing the 11 mixes that were released on vinyl last summer (some of which never made it on to the VBO), this set of four CD's is extremely limited with less than 300 sets pressed.
For full tracklisting, click on the image opposite whilst reviews of every mix can be read here.
Thanks to David Beevers and Virgin (and all those who dontated), we are able to celebrate another 12 months of Secrets Online by offering this set to one lucky reader. All you have to do is send an email with your name and the header 'Promo CDs' to: secretsonline@f2s.com (multiple entries from the same email address will automatically be removed from the draw).

The winner will be notified via email and the closing date for this promo comp is 29/02/04

Made In Sheffield

The official 'MIS' site reports that the long awaited DVD of Eve Wood's acclaimed documentary featuring recent interviews with the League past & present will soon be available to buy online during this month. The site is also running a comp where those who place pre-orders could win a copy of the DVD as well as signed Human League posters.
To find out more about this DVD and it's extra features, please visit the official site here.


Vic & Bob's TOTP 2


UK comedians Vic Reeve & Bob Mortimer are guest presenters of BBC-2's early evening music show next week. Usually patchy due to Steve Wright's tiresome and dodgy music tastes, Vic & Bob have actually put together a couple of must-see shows featuring a wide range of innovative acts.
Tuesday's edition will feature the League performing 'Love Action' whilst other top archive clips include Soft Cell's 'Say Hello Wave Goodbye' no doubt accompanied by Vic & Bob's trademark banter. Monday's show will also be of interest to League fans as it includes Jo Callis and The Rezillo's performing the single 'Top Of The Pops'.

All shows go out from 6.45 pm - the full five day Vic & Bob lineup is available on the official TOTP2 site, whilst Vic's 1995 Loaded interview with Philip can be read here.

January 04 News Archive - exclusive remixes to download plus the latest on the League's live DVD

Orac's Singles of the week:
Junior Jack vs. Robert Smith 'Da Hype' - JJ samples distinctive Bobby O bassline 'I'm So Hot For You' which Pet Shop Boy Chris Lowe would later lovingly describe as a Human League rip-off after sampling the same notes for a Discoteca remix back in 1996. The League track that many will be instantly reminded of is of course 'Don't You Want Me'. Aided by a memorable vocal performance by The Cure's Robert Smith, this is a great track so pre-order a copy of 'Da Hype' here!
Robert himself lists The Human League along with the likes of Depeche Mode and Joy Division as one of his 'favourite music makers' here.

Hiem: Chelsea  
The Sunday Times last week quite rightly raved about this new electronic duo from you guessed it...Sheffield. With a League-like sound and a real League link in the form of guitarist Nick, this single has an ammusing monologue full of northern character. Currently only available on vinyl, the single can be sampled and ordered here.

Pet Shop Boys: Flamboyant
The PSB's go full on electro after re-discovering their form with last year's Disco 3. Produced by Tomcraft and using elements of his number one single Loneliness, Flamboyant is instant with classic pop structure. A happy reverse of 91's sequenced gem 'Miserablism' and the PSB's finest moment since 93's 'Can You Forgive Her', Flamboyant should banish the hit and miss era of Nightlife & Release.
Pre-order a copy here.