This album is something of a landmark in the history of The Human League but also synth-pop in general. Suddenly Philip is singing about love and relationships in a way that would never have been allowed in The League Mk 1. Whilst Susan and Joanne were probably the most striking visual change to the line up, the addition of Ian Burden and Jo Callis carried most impact on the songwriting. The final piece in the puzzle was producer Martin Rushent who seemed to be able to wrangle electronic instruments to craft perfect pop.
I own an original UK pressing of this record from 1981 and a blue vinyl which was included in the "Virgin Years" box set from 2022. As you can see in the photo, the forty year old copy is looking a little bit grubby and has a few light scratches here and there. The new record is pristine and sounds pretty good to say it is on coloured vinyl.
Opening track "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of" made a big impression
on me when I first bought this album on CD. Whilst this
song wasn't released as a single it was somehow familiar to me and I
thought the synth used on the chorus was amazing. Even though these songs use the Linn LM1 drum machine, Rushent makes it sound infinitely better than on contemporary releases by bitter rivals Heaven 17.
Listening to this album also reminds me of the night I found myself in a nightclub on a "Student Night" where they seemed to play nothing but dismal indie or grunge. Quite what kept me in the club I can not say, but sometime around 01:00 am the DJ suddenly dropped "Open Your Heart". At this point the indie brigade vacated the dance floor and those of us who had been pulling faces in the shadows emerged into the light. The DJ took note of our validation and continued to play dance and electronic music to a sea of happy smiling faces. If only for one night this song fought the good fight and proved that the world didn't revolve around Nirvana in 1992. For that reason alone I will always love "Open Your Heart".
The song that signalled the commercial breakthrough of The Human League was "The Sound of Crowd". The version presented here is a remix with a new bassline but it remains a perfect brooding pop single that has stood the test of time. The next song "Darkenss" sounds like two different songs that have been welded together but the melodies are memorable and it's great to hear Jo Callis on backing vocals. "Do or Die" is a playful number with my favourite lyric on the album: "I'd like to leave, so would you kindly look the other way".
The second side opens with a bizarre, but mercifully short version of the theme to the film "Get Carter" which along with, "I am the Law" make a nice change of pace. Any song that centres on the assassination of President Kennedy has the potential to be pretty disastrous but "Seconds" is both respectful and entertaining. An insistent Linn drum machine and Roland Jupiter 4 propel "Love Action (I Believe In Love)" to dizzying heights of synth pop perfection. Just as you think this album can't get any better you hear the final track "Don't You Want Me" and realise this album is an embarrassment of riches. 5/5
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