Back in 1980, this was the review penned in Sounds which was then one of the main weekly music UK papers:-
Too much, too late, but too good to be missed. Eighteen months ago The Human League stood on the brink of altering the course of British pop music. Their humour and conviction combined to create an aura of (until then) unknown commercial excitement. Had the Sheffield funsters swallowed their hip pride and attacked the singles charts, they would have created a devastating impact on the British pop music(k) scene.
But as always seems to happen to the originals, they failed because of their own foolish move towards dignity and ‘below ground’ obscurity. They stood back for a moment allowing the empty and dull Gary Numan to ruin their market with his one and only flash of excellence. As soon as ‘Are Friends Electric’ hit that number one spot it became clear that The Human League had lost the gamble. And the stakes were high.
So, now in the midst of ska silliness, the finest electronic band of all time finally release the goods. A double single that clearly defines to all four angles of synthesised madness. The soft beauty of ‘Marianne’, the weirdness of ‘Dance Vision’, the perfect semi-harsh statements of ‘Being Boiled’ (new version) and finally the absurd pap-poppity of Gary Glitters ‘Rock And Roll’ and Iggy’s ‘Nightclubbing’. To be taken in large doses. To be played to life.
Nobody then could have predicted that within 12 months, The Human League would be the band to redefine British music in a way that no-one else had done since the era of The Beatles as synthesisers replaced guitars as the instrument of choice on the attack on the pop charts. Listening to Holiday 80 which is as excellent a release as the Sounds critic indicates, it really is hard to imagine what would unfold in the months ahead:-
mp3 : The Human League - Marianne
mp3 : The Human League - Dancevision
mp3 : The Human League - Being Boiled
mp3 : The Human League - Rock'n'Roll/Nightclubbing
But 31 years ago???? I really dont want to think about it.......
Happy Listening
4 comments:
My sister first got this, but not because she was an electro pop visionary - but because of the picture.
(I'm sure some of you back in the day also bought a single because of the cover, this was one of the reasons we got stuff back then.)
After listening to the single she did not like it at all and changed her mind about the cover (She used to pin them on her wall)
She then gave it to me. I listened and thought it was alright but nothing could top the mighty Numan and these imitators would disappear soon enough.
Just as a footnote, this was also released as a single single with marianne and Dancevision on one side and Being Boiled on the other. The Virgin number was SV 105, the double single being VS 105.
There is also a version of Rock 'n' Roll without Nightclubbing and a different mix of Marianne out there too.
Holiday 80 is how I discovered Human League Mk 1 and then I worked backwards and forwards.
But I have to take some acception to the idea that the same band would go on to redefine Pop and usher in the era of the Synth.
It was more Martin Rushent (RIP) with Human League Mk 2 as his vehicle which would bring about the Synth Era.
The true genius behind Human League would go on to amaze, impress and take much longer to fall foul of popular music, as BEF/Heaven 17.
Oh and full disclosure...I DID buy Holiday 80 because of the cover art. I have bought some of my favorite music that way.
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