the human league - original remixes and rarities
one of the best examples of the original synth pop explosion. doomy and gloomy monotonic keyboards matched by phils unique take on pop music revealed a darker side to the shiny pop. once the backing vocals of the dance floor girls were added to the package, then everything clicked into place, culminating in a string of perfect electro pop that just about everyone has a favourite. this new collection collates many new-to-cd tracks, 12" remixes, b-sides and all manner of previously unavailable bits-n-bobs. of course, these tracks often expose the lack of adventure in the 12" format as this took a few years until ztt stepped in and exploited the relatively new format for all its worth, so like the recent depeche mode set the early 12"s are just really little more than extending a linn drum pattern here, and a synth line there, but still check the track listing and see if your mouth starts watering - far too many classics to complain about. the recent electro revival owes so much to the starkness of 'the sound of the crowd', a track that to this day still commands total respect for its inspired melody and chorus while maintaining such a dark edge, then there is the obvious appearance off the chart storming 'dont you want me' in its full extended DANCE version WHERE LITTLE IS VERY DIFFERENT, OTHER THAN MORE DRAWN OUT INSTRUMENTAL SECTIONS REVEALING THE MINIMAL SYNTH ACTION THAT WAS AVAILABLE AT THE TIME, BUT DESPITE THE ELEMENTAL TECHNOLOGY MANY OF THESE TRACKS STILL SOUND AS FRESH AND RELEVANT 25 YEARS ON FROM THEIR ORIGINAL RELEASE.
FILE THIS ALONGSIDE YOUR WELL WORN COPY OF 'DARE' AND PLAY WHENEVER YOUR PLAYLIST DEMANDS SOME EXCELLENT ELECTRO-POP.
tracklisting
1. Being Boiled - Travelogue Version
2. The Sound Of The Crowd - 12” Version - Complete
3. Hard Times - Love Action B-Side
4. Non-Stop - Open Your… B-Side
5. Don't You Want Me - Extended Dance Mix
6. Mirror Man - Extended Version
7. You Remind Me Of Gold - Mirror Man B-Side
8. (Keep Feeling) Fascination - Improvisation
9. Total Panic - Fascination B-Side
10. The Lebanon - Extended
11. Life On Your Own - Extended
12. Electric Dreams - Extended
13. Human - Extended
14. Heart Like A Wheel - Extended