|
27/07/05
The HMV website in Japan have added details of a forthcoming Human
League CD for the Asian market entitled 'Original
Mixes' which is due for release
on September 26th with the Virgin/EMI catalogue number CDV3011.
Up until recently, just three of the original Human League 12"
mixes have made it onto CD compilations such as 'Sound
Of The Crowd', 'Love
Action' and 'Human'
whilst 'Fascination'
did get a 3" CD release back in the late 80's.
No details of a tracklisting yet or whether the new remastered compilation
will appear on UK shores but the League's db has confirmed the project
over in the Secrets forum: 'I've
been talking about this with Virgin today.
I think the idea is to put the 12" versions (not remixes) of
songs on cd as some are still missing'.
db also revealed that US special
editions of 'Hysteria' and 'Crash' may soon be available in September
featuring extra tracks including b-sides.
You
can discuss this news story in the Secrets forum thread by clicking
here.
(Image
top right: Philip captured at Saturday's festival in London by Liam
Donnelly where the band performed Electric Dreams and Don't You
Want Me)
 The
Observer this week gave the new Goldfrapp album Supernature a glowing
5/5 review and for good measure it mentions the Human League:
'Supernature is a triumph; a combination of electronics and decadence,
soaring, sneering vocals and high drama, which references pretty
much every glamorous, dark, witty, twisted bit of pop produced over
the last 20 years. The first song - and first single release - 'Ooh
La La', is Kylie at the top of her game, with touches of Debbie
Harry and Roisin Murphy. 'Lovely 2 C U' harnesses the jaded sexiness
of the Human League
and my favourite ever Girls Aloud song, 'Some Kind of Miracle'.
'Satin Chic' sounds like something Toyah might have co-written with
Vicky Pollard. But despite all these allusions, the sound, and sensibility,
is still very much Goldfrapp's own.'
Tantalizing sound samples from the album which is release on August
22nd can be heard here
whilst the album can be pre-ordered by clicking on the Supernature
image.
orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com
23/07/05
 Secrets
Online is honoured to make available for the first time a previoulsy
unreleased Human League remix entitled 'Human
Remains' which is based upon
Dare
opener 'The Things That Dreams
Are Made Of'.
'Human Remains' has been provided to the site by The
Visitor AKA Jon Pleased - an
accomplished and well known UK DJ who has been signed to the innovative
electronic label Wall of Sound since 2001 (also home to the likes
of Royksopp
and Les Rythmes Digitals).
Jon produced the mix in early 2003 with the view of releasing it
commercially. Virgin were approached but the cost of getting the
samples cleared proved to be too high which is a great shame considering
the sheer quality of the mix.
Like Richard X and many others within the music industry, Jon is
a huge League fan as he explained to us earlier this week: 'I've
been a fan since 'Being Boiled' and 'Love & Dancing' is my all
time favourite LP. I used to dj regularly at a club in Reading called
'Checkpoint Charlie' and after mentioning the above fact in a magazine,
Martin Rushent came down to see me play and we had a very long chat,
he was lovely and we talked about doing a project together, but
unfortunately it never happened.'
Jon has been busy recently writing and producing the debut album
for Roxanne Wilde,
younger sister of 80's pop icon Kim (the first record Orac ever
bought was Kids In America ;)). The album is due out on Wall Of
Sound next January and Jon says 'it's
like the League meets Dollar!'.
Next month sees the Wall of Sound release of a 'Visitor' AA side
12 inch featuring 'European Love'
and a cover of The Eurythmics 'The
Walk' (which features Roxanne
on vocals).
Jon has also been working on material with Soft
Cell legend Sir
Dave Ball and the results of
those sessions should see the light of day next spring.
Also known as Jon Pleased Wimmin
especially during the 90's, Jon has received some high praise in
the past from the likes of Sister
Bliss of Faithless;
'Jon’s always been very musical,
and on the verge of being a big recording artist but people mistake
Jon for being associated with handbaggy house. He actually has a
brilliant musical mind and an ear for the most cutting edge electronic
music, but plays it with his theatrical twist.'
Jon's love & respect for the League's music really does shine
through on 'Human Remains' a clubland delight that enhances the
original bassline and we've been dancing to it all week.
Click here or on The
Visitor image top right to download 'Human Remains' (running time
7.30).
Note: This mix is provided for non-commercial
use only to promote The Human League and is copyright protected
by the holders Virgin EMI. Please avoid bootlegs (particularly those
on Ebay) that include mixes from this site.
The original version of 'The Things Dreams Are Made Of' can be found
on Dare.
Many of the League's old albums are available at bargain budget
prices, some of which are digitally remastered with extra tracks.
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.
Related links:
http://www.trustthedj.com/JonPleased
http://us.geocities.com/theblitzkids/jonpleasedwimmin.html
http://www.wallofsound.net
(With thanks to Jon)
The League will be playing in glorious
London this Saturday on the main stage of The Big Gay Out and if
that wasn't enough the best UK band in recent years Goldfrapp
have also been added to the bill! Find out more by clicking here.
Later that night, the League will also be playing at the Astoria.
(with thanks to Liam Donnelly)
Undisputed single of the month: Depeche
Mode: Precious. A cunning mix of all the things that make
DM so great. Haunting melodic genius. A hybrid of elements that
made 'Shake The Disease', 'Enjoy The Silence' & 'It's No Good'
instant classics....'Precious' is one of them.
Mute EMI is also on a roll with the new Goldfrapp single 'Ooh La
La' - a nifty taster from the brilliant new album 'Supernature'
due out next month.
orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com
13/07/05
Some stunning photos have began to reach the site taken at last
Sunday's Pili Pili festival in Belgium including the rather stylish
shot opposite of the League captured by Marcel
of the Netherlands.
The League put on another great show this time opening the gig with
'Seconds' according to regular contributer to the site Jodst Franky.
More stunning pics from the festival and comments from those who
attended it can be reached by clicking on forum.
The Pansentient LEAGUE Webmaster Jer White has kindly put together
the very first Human League remix chart based on download stats
from both his site and Secrets Online and with more mixes in the
pipeline (details below), the chart could become a regular monthly
feature.
The stats contain all the downloads from both sites since Nov 04
up to mid-July and in at Number One is.......
1 Being Boiled (EMP Blind Revenge Mix) - 2620 downloads
2 Shameless (Audacity Dance Mix) - 2483 downloads
3 Do or Die (2004 Audacity Mix) - 2437 downloads
4 Dreams of Leaving (Audacity Mix) - 1964 downloads
5 Seconds
(Audacity Coup D'Etat Extended Remix) - 1745 downloads
6 Shameless (EMP Shamelessly Euphoric
Remix) - 1663 downloads
7 Dance Like A Star (Afront Rebeats) - 1636 downloads
8 I Don't Depend On
You (EMP 2005 Radio Edit) - 1198 downloads
9: Empire State Human (Ex-Rental Mile High Mix) - 1245 downloads
10 Open Your Heart (Afront's
Complete) - 541 downloads
Tracks in white are now hosted by The Pansentient LEAGUE and you
can download these gems by visiting the site here.
Keep an eye on this page
in the coming days for some new mixes. First up will be a real killer
of a remix by Wall of Sound
artist The
Visitor. Initially recorded for release back in early 2003,
the mix is based around 'The Things
Dreams Are Made Of' with samples
of 'Sound Of The Crowd'.
It is quite simply brilliant and the mix entitled 'Human
Remains' will be here very shortly.
In the meantime, you can find out a bit more about The Visitor over
at the official Wall of Sound website here.
EMP
have also just completed a new version of 1984 stompa 'Electric
Dreams'!
Mr B of EMP Productions wrote to us with the following teaser: 'It’s
in full club mix mode (7mins 30secs) and have used all of the vocal.
Have “welded” on a big Blue Monday/Funky Town bassline,
arpeggiated synth, subtle filtering and fat clubby drums (the intro
drums are a bit reminiscent of Do or Die from Dare).'
Isn't this website good to you all....? ;)
09/07/05
 Last
week saw the release of volume 2 in the critically acclaimed 12"/80s
series on the Family label here in the UK. This 3 CD complilation
once again draws together rare and collectable 12 inch mixes digitally
remastered and appearing on CD for the very first time.
For some unknown reason, the advertised track listing (as seen on
Amazon) is completely different to the final version now available
in the shops. CD 1 now contains the original and rather brilliant
Rushent extended mix of the League's 'Sound
of The Crowd'. Other superb mixes
include Soft Cell's Bedsitter,
The Associates - Party Fears 2,
Heaven 17 - Penthouse & Pavement,
Pet Shop Boys - Love Comes Quickly,
The Style Council - Long Hot Summer,
Thompson Twins Love On Your Side
& Simple Minds - New Gold
Dream plus many other faves that
make this a nifty little definitive *classic* compilation with an
emphases on new-wave.
You can purchase 12"/80s/2 for
£12.99 by clicking here.
orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com
David Beevers AKA Technical has
posted a report to the Secrets forum regarding last Saturday's concert
in Belgrade:
 Well
Belgrade was interesting.
We arrived on Friday around 9pm.
I went with the crew at 2pm on Saturday and it was raining, very
windy and cold.
Wrong kind of stage was supplied with no side or rear covers so
the stage was very wet. I make it clear that I won't set up any
gear until its sorted.
Sit around in the cold until 5.30pm when they decide to rigup some
kind of cover to one side of the stage to stop rain. As its the
wrong stage not to much covering can be added or it'll turn into
a kite!!
Watch people vacuum puddles!!!!!!.
6.15pm setup gear as rain has stopped and make sure there is lots
of plastic at hand just incase.
Sound check 7.30pm to 9pm all ok.
Go to hotel (with our guards) for a warm.
Arrive back at 11.45pm no wind no rain and quite a nice night.
On stage around 12.20am and crowd goes mad.
(Image: Jo, Neil and Nic at Belgrade captured by db)
More images from the night can be viewed over at db's personal webspace
by clicking here.
Neil Sutton is to marry his longterm girlfriend next Friday and
Secrets Online on behalf of all it's readers would like to wish
them both the very best for future happiness.
 EMP
last night contacted this site inbetween work on a brand new remix
for Secrets Online and here's what they had to say...
Just a note to say on behalf of EMP Productions, thank-you to all
of the people who have downloaded the 3 mixes posted on Secrets
site so far! As well as the downloads which total over 4000(!) so
far, I have received many complimentary emails (which I have tried
to personally reply to). Overall I am overwhelmed by the positive
response to the tracks and will continue updating and remixing HL
tracks for the site (have had lots of suggestions for future HL
tracks to work on which I am considering at present).
Because of the reaction particularly to “I Don’t Depend
on You”, I sent a copy to Martyn Ware and he came back with
a short but sweet email saying “I love it!” and made a
few production suggestions for further versions of the mix. I realise
that many of the fans are precious about the original versions of
the tracks, so I try to treat them with respect and am glad that
so many people like the EMP treatment. Thanks also to Rob for hosting
the mixes (and eating into his hard-drive!) and also Afront and
his Pansentient League site for additional hosting!
Cheers – EMP Productions.
The single edit of 'I Don't Depend
on You' can still be downloaded here
whilst an extended version of the mix will be made available here
in the coming months. Readers may be pleased to know that other
classic mixes previoulsy hosted by Secrets Online including those
by Ex-Rental, Electroluvs
and Audacity can now be downloaded
via Afront's Pansentient League site here.
Meanwhile The Audacity are currently recording new material and
have also recorded a track with Solar Stone previoulsy known as
the Space Kittens who remixed
the League's 'Stay With Me Tonight'
back in 1996.
Secrets Online recommends: Royksopp:
The Understanding - superb retro-electro with tracks
that will end up on just about every advert going in the coming
months. More pop orientated than the laid back debut Melody AM with
guest vocalists including the unique Bjork-esque tones of The Knife's
Karin Dreijer. Best album I've heard all year.
29/06/05
 Things
may be a little to quiet on the news front during these hazy summer
weeks but Secrets Online collaborators EMP
have been very busy behind the scenes putting all their spare time
into another classy Human League mix though the song in question
was never released under the League's name.
'I Don't Depend On You'
was the first single released by Oakey, Marsh and Ware shortly after
signing to Virgin. Originally intended to be the League's first
full-on 'disco' record, the track had to be re-recorded after Virgin
got cold feet over the use of synths and electronic percussion.
The League were forced to retreat and add conventional instruments
and (for the first time) female backing vocals and the single was
eventually released under the pseudonym of 'The
Men'.
The single sank without trace for a variety of reasons but the song
itself is something of a classic after finally finding a wider audience
when added to the CD re-issue of Travelogue
back in the late 80's.
EMP have produced a fascinating mix that enhances the roots of the
original track, a funky club classic in the making that will lead
you back to the original track itself.
Once again, the production on this mix is first rate with EMP themselves
even hinting that they may push for it to be pressed as a promo
and included on future dance compilations believing it to be their
finest League mix to date.
To download the EMP 2005
radio mix of 'I Don't Depend On You' - please click here(file size: 4.93MB - for a limited
time only)
If you enjoyed this mix then please take
time to let EMP know what you think. Perhaps even suggest a League
track that you think should be next for the remix treatment (You
Remind Me Of Gold?? :)).
You can contact the mighty collective known as EMP here.
Note: This mix is provided for noncommercial
use to promote The Human League and is copyright protected by the
holders Virgin EMI. Please avoid bootlegs (particularly those on
Ebay) that include mixes from this site.
The original version of 'I Don't Depend On You' can be found on
Travelogue.
Many of the League's old albums are available at bargain budget
prices, some of which are digitally remastered with extra tracks.
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.
CH4 last night broadcast a half hour
show about this years Homelands festival late last night. We didn't
didn't know anything about it until the day of broadcast but concert
footage of the band performing Fascination was included plus a new
interview. The show is likely to be repeated again so keep an eye
on those TV listings.
Finally, I must recommend the new live
Kraftwerk
album Minimum - Maximum,
a double CD full of revitalized analogue classics taken from the
band's world tour last year. The quality of this recording and the
sheer inventiveness has already led to NME calling it one of the
best live albums ever and I have to agree. Even the recent material
(which was greeted by muted response including a bizarre reworking
of Tour De France) sound incredible. I'm sure that this release
will win technical awards at some point and many of you will love
it so pick up a copy
here and enjoy!
17/06/05
More tickets have now gone on sale for the League's 2005 tour of
the UK.
Tickets for Southport Theatre, Southampton
Guildhall, Newcastle
Academy and Manchester Apollo can now be booked via Ticketmaster
here
to ensure the best seats.
(With thanks to Alan Hutchinson)
Opposite: David Beevers AKA Technical and guitarist Nick in Belgium
last month (image: Franky Jodts)
13/06/05
The Human League have confirmed that they will be embarking on a
16 date UK tour this winter which will begin in Exeter on November
30th.
No changes to the dates released to the forum last week and some
venues have already began selling tickets including the opening
gig at Exeter Great Hall via the 'wegottickets' website which can
reach by clicking here.
Tickets for other venues should go on sale shortly via the usual
agents such as Ticket
Web.
In addition to the UK tour, db has also confirmed that the League
will be returning to Belgium for another high profile festival and
delicious chocs.
The League, Goldfrapp & Depeche Mode all live this winter...get
saving those pennies!
Essential 2005 live dates now consist of
the following:
July
Saturday 2nd - Belgrade
Sunday 10th - Pili Pili, Maastricht,
Belgium
Saturday 23rd - Big Gay Out
August
Saturday 13th - Marktrock, Leuven, Belgium
September
Saturday 3rd - Killarney NEC
Sunday 4th - Electric Picnic
November
Wed 30th Exeter University
December
Thur 1st St
Albans Arena
Sat 3rd Southport Theatre
 Sun
4th Nottingham Rock City
Mon 5th Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Wed 7th Bradford St Georges Hall
Thur 8th Sheffield City Hall
Fri 9th Norwich UEA
Sun 11th Southampton Guildhall
Tue 13th Edinburgh Usher Hall
Wed 14th Newcastle Academy
Thur 15th Brighton Dome
Sat 17th Manchester Apollo
Mon 19th London Forum
Tue 20th Bristol Colston Hall
Wed 21st Warwick Arts Centre
(Belgium images © Franky
Jodts 2005)
Secret Records
are to go ahead with their live CD taken from the 'Live
At The Dome' DVD which was released
earlier this year to good reviews
and healthy sales.
Initially intended to include a bonus DVD featuring highlights from
the Dome concert, the live CD release will now be an enhanced CD
featuring video files of 'Human',
'Mirror Man'
& 'Fascination'.
Thirteen audio tracks lifted directly from the DVD are also expected
to be included. With a retail price of £11.99, 'Live At The
Dome' should hit UK stores on July
18th and can be pre-ordered here.
18/06/05
BBC-1 7.00pm:
The season finale featuring half a million Daleks and the end of
Sir Christopher Eccles era as the *finest* Doctor ever - he will
be sadly missed. Pre-order the must-have season box set here
and see what all the fuss is about.
Dr Who: "Best. BBC. Family.
Drama. Series. Ever." - Charlie Brooker (The Guardian)
(Bad Wolf Dalek image © BBC)
RIP: Ed
Bishop (SHADO Commander Ed Straker in UFO)
Single of the Week: The
Knife - Pass This On - twisted yet delightful Swedish electro
with steel drum sounds...fantastic!
orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com
02/06/05
|
