R O M A N T I C


UK Release date: 23.09.90
Label: Virgin Records
LP: V2624
Cassette: TCV 2624
CDV 2624

(Romantic is currently deleted)

Track Listing

01: KISS THE FUTURE
02: A DOORWAY
03: HEART LIKE A WHEEL
04: MEN ARE DREAMERS
05: MISTER MOON AND MISTER SUN
06: SOUNDTRACK TO A GENERATION
07: REBOUND
08: THE STARS ARE GOING OUT
09: LET'S GET TOGETHER AGAIN
10: GET IT RIGHT THIS TIME


PRODUCED & ENGINEERED BY: BOB KRAUSHAAR,
MARK BRYDON, ROBERT GORDON, MARTIN RUSHENT, WILLIAM ORBIT & MARK 'SPIKE' STENT


UK Chart position: 24




Singles released:

Heart Like a Wheel (August 1990)
UK Chart position: 29

Soundtrack to a Generation (November 1990)
UK Chart position: 74
Final single for Virgin











NOTES:


Suddenly re-emerging from what seemed like an eternity in hibernation, The Human League were to release what was a terrible mistake in terms of timing… A synth pop album, mixed with house influences and dance beats sounds rather nice, doesn't it? Well, not during the peak of greasy goatees, unwashed t-shirts, and generally disgusting degenerated American youth storming the charts under the names of Nirvana, etc it didn't. This, in combination with an at the time less than trustworthy record company, caused an otherwise fully functional electronic album to drop dead the minute it was released.

With the return of previous League members and trusty old producer Martin Rushent, this album deserved a better fate - but was soon to be found in discount bins around the globe (I'm sure the dreadful pale baby blue cover had something to do with this as well!). As mentioned above, the album features some elements of house and modern dance beats - but more importantly, it signalled a return to the original ideas of the band. Namely, to produce hit music containing nothing but synthesizers and vocals (as per the "Dare!" era). This fact, ofcourse, fed courage and hope into the bands loyal followers. Although, when informed that Virgin Records and the band were to part ways most fans figured it would be the kiss of death to the band (well, it fortunately wasn't - see review of "Octopus" later).

So, in this overlooked gem of electronic pop what are the tracks to keep an ear open for? Well, for starters the only track that was to chart, "Heart Like a Wheel" (this is pure League-pop at its best), "The Stars Are Going Out" (why this track has not been featured as part of a soundtrack or released as a single is beyond me, as it contains some of the better lyrics and most haunting sounds ever released in any song by the band), and "Rebound" (clearly and audibly depicting the state of depression the band was in at the time of recording - yet unbelievably beautiful in its minimalistic production).

Choice Tracks:

The Stars are Going Out
Rebound
Heart Lika a Wheel


Krister Malm