I can't believe it's been more than 20 years since 'Reproduction' was released, and they're still going strong. I love this album - it's got everything a synthpop lover needs... strong melodies, great vocals, cool sounds, you name it.

I'm not much of a music-reviewer, so I'll just let the music speak for itself and give some short descriptions. If you just can't wait, hop over to http://home.wanadoo.nl/spn/temp2/ and enjoy the samples. :-)

A detailed review of the 3-track sampler that's available can be found here: http://www.releasemagazine.net/Onrec...anleaguesp.htm

The album has 16 tracks, but 7 of them are short instrumental 'interludes' that connect the full tracks. There's also one longer instrumental 'Ringinglow', so that leaves us with 8 new vocal tracks, which is about the only negative thing you could say about this album: not enough new tracks!

I won't go into details on the new single 'All I Ever Wanted' (which is track 1 and presented as 'Dave Bascombe Mix'), because I assume everyone has heard the track and/or downloaded the video from the Roadrunner website. I'll just mention it's an awesome single and far better than anything in the charts right now.

Next up is 'Love Me Madly', a frantic track with some really weird lyrics. Phil sure is angry at this girl. :-) Also presented as 'Dave Bascombe Mix'.

It's followed by 'Shameless', a very cool track with strangely processed vocals and a bittersweet refrain. I love the music on this one.

Next full track is 'Never Give Your Heart'. It's the 'Secrets' version of 'One Man In My Heart'. :-)

On with 'The Snake' - could a song with the lyric 'Path Of Least Resistance' go wrong? Ever heard Phil rapping? Here's your chance.

'Ringinlow' is next, the long instrumental, and it's a kind of follow-up to 'The Snake', with elements of the previous song.

Another quite agressive track is 'Liar', you can tell they had a lot of fun trying out how far they could tweak their synths on this one. Weird background sounds a-plenty.

Aaah... 'Reflections'. Best track on the album? Possibly. It's definitely the longest (more than 6 minutes). Awesome vocals, heartfelt lyrics, lots of bleeps (think 'Being Boiled' - Travelogue version), and even the use of vocal samples which I haven't heard since 'Reproduction' (correct me if I'm wrong). An instant classic.

We're almost there. 'Sin City' is quite a basic track with minimal instrumentation, or maybe it just has too much competition coming right after 'Reflections'. :-)

'You'll Be Sorry' is the last track, a perfect way to end the album. It kinda reminds me of 'The Stars Are Going Out', except this one has the vocal parts equally shared between Phil and the girls.

Let me say you'll be sorry too if you don't rush out and buy this album the minute it's available, it's *that* good. Welcome back The Human League to the synthpop world - now don't let us wait another 6 years!

Details:

Single - All I Ever Wanted - out on July 30th

cd1
all i ever wanted (dave bascombe mix)
tranquility (exclusive track that will NOT be on the album)
all i ever wanted (vanity case mix by das kompressor)

cd2
all i ever wanted (original mix - will not be included on the album)
all i ever wanted (oliver lieb mix)
all i ever wanted (video)

Album - Secrets - out on August 6th

1. All I Ever Wanted
2. Nervous
3. Love Me Madly
4. Shameless
5. 122.3 BPM
6. Never Give Your Heart
7. Vince
8. The Snake
9. Ringinglow
10. Liar
11. Lament
12. Reflections
13. Brute
14. Sin City
15. Release
16. You'll Be Sorry

-- Marco