30/05/05

The Human League: 'still elegant, catching and fresh'.

Online Spanish news site El Periódico.com has posted a superb review of the League's appearence last Friday at the Primavera Sound Festival prior to jetting back for Homelands. The full review is in Spanish and requires users to be registered, but Zona Musical journalist Juan Rebenaque has very kindly translated most of the review below:

The Human League class

All the class and distinction were lacking in New Order concert, were in Human League show. The english techno-pop pioneer band offered one hour show without waste.



An impeccable scene, a Phil Oakey in perfect voice physical state and a tracklist of their better songs (The Lebanon, Mirror Man, The Sound of the Crowd, Love Action, Fascination, Don't You Want Me?, Together in Electric Dreams) still elegant, catching and fresh.

(El Periódico)


(Image: Primavera Sound League)

29/05/05

League action wows Homelands crowd!

Paul Boddy was with us late last night at the front of what turned out to be a packed tent (with people lined up outside the entrance trying to get in) for the League's Homelands debut.

Having watched storming sets from Audio Bullys and Mylo (one of the few modern artists to take 80's electronic sounds and create something genuinely fresh and exciting), The Human League finally took to Stage 5 at 10.00pm.
When word spread, the tent soon filled and despite stiff competition from chav-superstar The Streets in the opposite arena, The League set about winning over a young crowd, for many of whom it would have been the first chance to witness the electronic pioneers in (love) action.
Dressed in black and radiating cool, the band played a condensed one hour set which seem to fly by in a few minutes.

(Homelands image © BBC)






Highlights? Storming, new interpretations of Open Your Heart, with teasing intro and set-opener Seconds, with cool section in the middle. The sound overall was excellent considering the pitfalls of festival audio (earlier The Bravery had suffered numerous problems with their guitarist being inaudible for their first 4 songs) and the limited set-up time available, however Neil Sutton's keyboard had to be hastily replaced due to an attack of MIDI gremlins at one point.




It was great watching the smiles on the crowd's many faces as it became apparent to them just how many groundbreaking tracks the band had been responsible for and realised that they were watching one of the countries foremost pioneers in electronic music. Hit after hit followed, with tracks like Tell Me When, Fascination and the more recent (should have been a hit) All I Ever Wanted. After the traditional, set-closing Don't You Want Me, the band returned to play the seminal Being Boiled followed by Together in Electric Dreams.



Any complaints? Why weren't the band given an hour and half slot, an hour simply wasn't enough (with entry price to the festival £60, I worked out if I'd just came to see the League it would have cost me a pound a minute!). And finally, having seen some of the other artists in the larger Live Arena and Arena 1, it was a tragedy that the League weren't given the same chance to perform to a bigger audience, as I'm sure they would have gone down a storm. However, overall the set left me wanting more and looking forward to watching the band when they tour later on this year.

Bring it on!

Paul Boddy



orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com

(with huge thanks to db)

28/05/05

Shameless: EMP Shamelessly Euphoric Remix - free download!

To celebrate the League's Homeland's debut, Secrets Online is pleased to offer perhaps our finest 'fan' remix to date as a free download.
Mixed with the Homelands in mind, 2001's 'Shameless' has been given an unbelievably uplifting euphoric twist by professional remix outfit EMP who have recently been busy mixing tracks for the likes of Sony UK and Virgin.
Given the technology at their disposal (plus their sheer love for the League), EMP have provided a fantastic mix which to me sounds as good if not better than most commercially available mixes (an amazing feat considering the problems with constructing mixes of this nature).




EMP spent a good few weeks producing a new backing track with a few nods to the younger dance audience of Homelands whilst retaining all those analogue bleeps amongst plenty of new electro layers that should please the faithful.

I had the mix on repeat as Liverpool went on to beat AC Milan and EMP's version improves with each listen. With a running time of just over 7 minutes, this is a big file (over 10MB) but it is well worth the wait and will be available for a limited period only.

To download EMP Shamelessly Euphoric Remix please click here or the image opposite.

Note: This mix is provided for noncommercial use to promote The Human League and is copyright protected by the holders Chrysalis. The original version of Shameless can be found on Secrets.

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.


I will be at Homelands together with a Liverpool FC scarf to cheer on the League. Full reports will appear on this page shortly after Monday :)


New online interview with Philip


Playlouder website have a new interview with Philip on the eve of the Homelands gig that includes a few insightful tidbits about the eagerly awaited new Human League album and it's possible musical direction.
Playlouder are in no doubt as to how influential the League have been on the dance scene with some enthusiastic questions for the League frontman. You can read the interview by clicking here.


2005 UK winter tour?



The Civic Hall in Wolverhampton have the League down for a gig on December 5th and you can find out more by clicking here.



orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com

26/05/05

The Things That Dreams Are Made Of......




Liverpool FC: Champions of Europe!
Man Utd used a cover version of the League track 'The Things That Dreams Are Made Of' (by Bias feat. Toni Halliday) for their film 'Beyond the Promised Land' back in 2000 but from last night onwards, the song belongs to Liverpool FC who came back from *3-0* to win the Champions League final against much fancied AC Milan.
My Mum, Dad and older brothers are Liverpudlians and I dedicate this update to them :)

(Normal service will be resumed very shortly with something to get you in the mood for Homelands)

21/05/05

'Magnet Pop' - Live!




By all accounts, it seems clear that The Mighty League have effortlessly picked up where they left off back in December '04 with two very memorable concerts last weekend.
The first gig of 2005 took place in Belgium on Saturday night with a setlist similar to the 2004 UK tour including the Susan highlight - a pure electro cover of 'Just Be Good To Me'. Stomping Reproduction single 'Empire State Human' was also retained from last years setlist whilst 'Seconds' has been remixed for 2005.

(Image: Stylishly dressed Phil at Belgium - photo: Franky Jolts who emailed us after the gig 'good sound - vocals and a happy crowd !!!')






Some great reviews appeared in the local press the following day with one stating that the hall was at 'boiling point'.
Other glowing comments included: a 'blueprint for all the electro pop groups of today', the rather cool phrase 'time lynx hitmachien' and 'Human League came clear with the world hits'

(Image © Toyota Sin City 2005)




You can view more stunning pictures from Franky and Toyota Sin City over in the Secrets forum by clicking here.

A bigger test faced the League the following night in Leipzig for the wave-gotik-treffen event (Europe's largest Goth festival) an event that reportedly likes it's music dark and heavy. Other synth acts had bombed but the League won over a late night crowd with a classic performance and a batch of songs that were familiar to most of those at the gig who all sang along and contributed to an electric atmosphere.

(Image: Joanne vamps it up in PVC for the Goth lads)

The League face another live packed few days this coming weekend with an appearance at Spain's Primavera Sound festival on Friday followed by the high profile UK dance Festival Homelands on Saturday 28th with the band going on stage around 10pm.
Secrets Online will be at Homelands to cover the event so expect in-depth reports and pics next week on this page.
To celebrate the League's Homeland debut, Secrets Online will be giving away another free mix of 2001's Shameless. Remixed this time by EMP, the finished version will be in our hands early next week.
EMP operative PB emailed us today with the news: 'running time about 7 1/2 mins, big bassline, retro electronic bleeps and uplifting breakdowns. Am really loving how mix has turned out...'
The EMP Shamelessly Euphoric Remix should be online for you all to download from Wednesday onwards for a limited time (here's hoping for a Liverpool victory over AC Milan too!).


(With thanks to Franky, db & Simon)



orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com

15/05/05

Seconds 2005 Audacity Coup D'Etat Extended Remix




The League kicked off their 2005 set of live dates in Brussels last night (see below) and to celebrate Secrets Online is giving away the latest Audacity remix who have this time opted to give Dare classic 'Seconds' a few of those unique Audacity touches.
With a running time of over 7 minutes, this is another delightful mix with a few clever twists whilst not straying too far from the sonic brilliance of the original.



This could well be the last Audacity remix for the some time as the band have retreated underground to finish work on their new album and thankfully, it's another one of those mixes that you can blast out before hitting the town on a Friday night and it stands up to repeated listens.

Simply click here to download this latest mix (file size: 6.90)

Note: This mix is provided for non-commercial use to promote The Human League and is copyright protected by the holders EMI/Virgin/Wright/Oakey. The original version of Seconds 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.

(NB: Previous mixes and video files have now been removed to free up space).

On route to Belgium...



David Beevers has posted some intriguing pics of the League on the eve of the Belgium gig - the first of many live appearences around the globe in 2005. Nine shots in total have been posted on the Secrets forum which begin with the League on the coach, a few at a service station(?) with the remaining shots of the band rehearsing.
Guitarist Nick has waved good-bye to the Numanoid look and opted for a full-on Led Zep early seventies rocker image whilst Philip now has a Christopher Eccleston Dr Who leather jacket (which I've been searching for endlessly but with no luck in Camden).


To view the pics - click on the rehearsal pic opposite and say 'hi' to the forum.

(Image © db 2005)

Kelly Osbourne single a winner!

You have to hand it to Kelly, her new single One World is currently attracting glowing comments from critics & music lovers alike whilst many are wrongly assuming that the single is a Human League cover. One World actually contains a Visage 'rift' from 1981 stomper Fade To Grey (which in itself was 'inspired' by the main rift of the League's debut Being Boiled).
The UK CD2 release could prove to be an essential purchase for League lovers as it contains Kelly's version of Sound of The Crowd plus the cover is rather fetching too.


Orac has ordered a copy you can get yours by clicking on Kelly opposite or by hovering the mouse here.

Secrets Online recommends:

Who would have thought that the BBC could knock out a near perfect season of Dr Who? Not only does the series have two fantastic lead actors Christopher Eccleston and the delightful Billie Piper but each episode is emotionally charged to the point where you need a box of tissues on hand especially with regards to the Doctor's relationship with Rose. Amazing TV and deserves the 8 million plus viewers per week.
Monday sees the release of the first three episodes on DVD which includes Mark (League of Gentleman) Gatiss highlight and Secrets Online fave The Unquiet Dead.
Grab a copy here.





NIN
Trent Reznor returns with his best album since Pretty Hate Machine. Plenty of nifty electronics and the usual angst but it's full of some very moving melodies and clever production. Gets better with every listen and you can grab a copy here.




orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com

10/05/05

Rip It Up and Start Again






Highly regarded music journalist Simon Reynolds recently emailed Secrets Online with details of his acclaimed book 'Rip It Up and Start Again' that was recently published in the UK by Faber & Faber.
Based on over 125 interviews, this extensive 576 page volume mainly covers a unique and diverse era in British music: the early 1980's - a decade too often dismissed and tarnished by the unfortunate rise of stadium soft rock, the Live Aid effect and Phil Collins from 1985 onwards.
Simon describes his book as 'a panoramic survey of the seven year period following punk, taking in everything from PIL to ABC to ZTT, from industrial and 2-Tone to synthpop and goth'.




The book also includes a detailed chapter on the Sheffield electronic movement charting the rise of The Human League during the Dare period, the British Electric Foundation and the Heaven 17 story featuring all new interviews with 'Philip Oakey, Ian Craig Marsh, Adi Newton, and Martyn Ware, plus a rare interview with Martin Rushent'.
Secrets Online hasn't got hold of a copy yet but Rip It Up has already received glowing 5-star reviews from the likes of:

Q Magazine ('this remarkable and perfectly timed cultural history is required reading')

GQ ('...a monumental book, something of a labour of love for Reynolds… His success is to produce a guide that’s never dry, but is instead both highly personal and authoritative--a new addition to the handful of essential pop books)

The Independent On Sunday ('as monumentally entertaining an edifice of great quotes, fine critical judgements, painstaking research and elegantly traced aesthetic bloodlines as could possibly have been hoped for').

Retailing at £10.19 from Amazon.co.uk, you can order 'Rip It Up and Start Again' by clicking here.

DJ Philip

Philip will be making a rare appearance at Sheffield's Razor Stiletto club night on June 7th as a special guest DJ armed no doubt with a stack load of very cool records. Advance tickets cost £9.00 - doors open at 8.00pm and the 'chic electronique' 2nd birthday celebration bash runs until 4.00am with confirmed bands that include the much missed Kings Have Long Arms, Pink Grease and the delightfully titled Supersonic Wings of Neptune.

For more details, please visit the Razor Stiletto website here.

Coming soon...Audacity's 2005 remix of 'Seconds' plus the lowdown on forthcoming Human League live appearences. Send us your live reviews and pics to the email addy below...



orac contact: secretsonline@f2s.com

Confirmed live dates 2005

May

Saturday 14th Cirque Royal Brussels
Sunday 15th Leipzig
Friday 27th Primavera Sound festival Barcelona
Saturday 28th Homelands Festival

September

Sat 3rd Killarney NEC - Ireland
Sun 4th Electric Picnic - Ireland