A brief interlude from Numan if I may, but one which should hold the attention of visitors to this site, especially given the set here. This was another album(s) anniversary celebtation. The albums in question? The Human League's 'Reproduction' and 'Travelogue'. This was the League before Martin Rushent got his paws on them (or at least Phil Oakey) and shot a revamped line up into the Top 10.
The Human League of 'Dare' and beyond had some great songs no doubt, but for me their best material harks back to the days when they were a nerdy quartet with soldering irons in hand. This version of the Human League drew on B-Movie sci-fi themes to produce some brilliant electronica that lacked some of the dour pomposity of some of their contemporaries who were carving out a similar furrow at the time. For me, an injection of humour gave this version of The Human League the edge ('The Black Hit of Space', 'Empire State Human' and can you think of another song that name checks Hawaii 5-0's Steve McGarrett?).
I seem to recall Phil Oakey in an interview, express, in a good natured manner, a degree of resentment that The Human League had been knob-twiddling with their home built syntheziers since 1978 or so only to have some new kid on the block going by the name of Numan to steal their hard earned thunder with his first electronic record. Andy McClusky (OMD were very similar to the pre-Dare League in some ways) is on record with the same gripe!
So, here Heaven 17, heavily disguised as 'The Heaven Seventeen' for the occasion play those two pivotal early UK electronic albums.
Thanks to the original Dime sharers (Polewka/Jofa).
FLAC: https://we.tl/t-fp7BzlwEtU
Artwork: https://we.tl/t-vF5dz8KItq
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