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As well as being purveyors of genius cheesy electro pop, as well as being one of the sexiest bands in the world, our Sheffield chums the Human League were once known for being innovators in their field.
To remind/alert people to these two facts, two labels are releasing stuff of theirs in October.
Oct 14th will see Virgin doing a bit of a cash-in thing celebrating the 21st anniversary of their No. 1 album 'Dare!' (which contained the hit 'Don't You Want Me' as well as other greats like 'Sound Of The Crowd'). The album is being reissued featuring a 32-page booklet with photos and sleevenotes. Plus it will contain 'Love And Dancing', touted as being the world's first remix album and which your humble correspondent picked up on 12" vinyl a few months ago for 50p in Camden market. Wicked.
There is ANOTHER release on the cards, slightly more interesting for the die-hard fans, and that is 'The Golden Hour Of The Future', a compilation of 20 previously unreleased recordings dating from 1977-99 when they were all experimental Kraftwerk enthusiasts, for a while they were called The Future and didn't have a couple of girlie singers, and Phil Oakey was the only one wearing makeup.
The album is released on indie label The Black Melody and contains sleevenotes by original members of the band and, bizarrely, Sean Turner of eclectic Croydon-based synthpop types Ex-Rental. It's pre-ceeded by a 6-track 12" EP, 'Dance Like A Star', in late September.
The Black Melody have a launch party at The Verge (wow, posh…), London on Oct 5th, featuring live appearances from Ex-Rental, Riviera and Tunic (!). There will be DJs and giveaways and so forth.
