Customer Reviews

Before / After

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was aware of the Human League / H17 split when it occurred & snapped up H17's first release as soon as i could get my hands on it. Likewise subsequent releases. I received this disc from Amazon today and am listening to it for the third time as I write this.
This is a thoughtful, carefully crafted 38:37 of the kind of synthpop FUN you thought couldn't be created anymore. It begins with several unashamedly techno-disco tracks which one would have expected from the Fry/White ABC if they had gotten better & better as H17 has. In fact, I would go so far to say that "Before After" is a landmark hybrid recording much like ABCs fantastic "Lexicon Of Love." As that disc, superbly produced, fused soul and disco in a Roxy Music-like new wave energy, this disc projects that soulful disco into a high energy modern techno dance sensibility.
Not only that, but the familiar funksoulpop of H17 is updated to the sound of the millenial dancefloor. One of the other reviews said that this made it sound unlike previous H17. The song writing intelligence is equal to or greater than previous H17 also, so it's like having your cake and eating it too! All the elements of what made H17 so fine are still there, the production is different reflecting modern pop values.
The second half of the album features some slower tempos, ballads. The disc has a wide range of emotion, by which I mean to say it is NOT just one long slamming dance fest. Like other H17 releases, the disc ends on a more introspective note. But no long meandering compositions on this one. No song reaches five minutes and most hover around four. So these tracks never exceed their own integrity. One is never waiting for a song to end or wondering if a certain section is excessive.
The previous H17 release, "Bigger Than America," was much darker not only in sound but emotion too. This disc has a clean, positive emotional quality, as if the funk of "BTA" (no pun intended) has been shrugged off, leaving a heart full of hope and romance. If "BTA" was the Pavement sensibility of H17, this disc is the romantic Penthouse side.
The female vocals have a prominent role which recalls the title track of "Penthouse And Pavement" and the best of Human League, but so incredibly accomplished that hearing them is like savoring a lush & delicious treat. Gregory's vocals are perfection and require no lyric sheet. Ever.
The music itself is on the level of Kraftwerk at their most fun & danceable. Actually, it is even more complex than that because of the horn & string charts and well-considered backing vocals. Somebody should mention that, yes, the song "Don't Fear The Reaper" IS that old Blue Oyster Cult tune. H17 stays very true to the overall sound of this smash standard, while still giving it their characteristic funkpopsoul flourish. I never did like BOC, but i did like that tune and it is really enjoyable here and good on repeated listen. If you think about it, the sensibility of the song is really in harmony with what H17 is about. A solid cover & not some smarmy toss off. Good job!
In conclusion, on third listen, i must say that H17 has released a real gem here that should please all old fans and would be welcome in the collection of anyone who misses the Fry/White ABC and i would think most Human League fans, even those who didn't particularly like the more political, darker, funkier H17 of the early years.

this is the first time i've reviewed on here, but i felt compelled to do so because this is a fab cd which deserves to be listened to as widely as possible. Glenn gregory has an unmistakable voice which just destroys everything around today, and H17 just continue to produce perfect electro-dance music. the sound is much more polished than the early days, and they do sound different - but its a good different. they've even squeezed in a cover of don't fear the reaper - i normally hate covers but i reckon this would make a great single. Go on buy it - you know you want to!!!

As an avid fan from the earliest days of H17, this is a real back with a bang album... sensational! If you liked the ground breaking Penthouse & Pavement album of the early 1980's... this is ground breaking for the current decade. The true roots of H17 synth-pop style music are not cast aside. This album feels very modern and will not leave any listener disappointed. Glenn Gregory's vocals are still as stunning today as they were 20 years ago and the album certainly lives upto the BEF 'music of quality and distinction' marque! Truely inspiring for the synth-pop devotee!!!

If you're wavering on whether or not to buy the new Heaven 17 CD, let this be your reassuring nudge. The new release from synth pioneers Gregory/Marsh/Ware is a lesson in synthpop evolution. Without alienating their most staunch supporters, H17 have updated their sound by adding dancefloor beats and female vocals that blow away some R&B contemporaries. The production is top notch and Glenn Gregory's voice perfectly guides the new grooves.

Possibly the best song on the CD is "Deeper and Deeper." If you can avoid singing along and/or dancing to that one, well, you just may be a corpse. Other gems (well, all the songs are great) are "I'm Gonna Make You Fall in Love with Me" and "Hands Up to Heaven."

The CD sounds much different, musically, than any of H17's other releases, but it does not pale in comparison. It took a long time to release, but the effort is more than worth it. As a fan, I can only hope that the fervor over the time it took to release the CD will make the gents hurry up with the next one!

"Before/After" is an added welcome to their discography and should be to yours as well.

Before/After goes everywhere I go - this deep, moving, effervescent collection of music - G5, Nano, Car Stereo, or just in my mind as I lay it down at night! Freedom From Love and Hands Up To Heaven rate among Heaven 17's best tracks. The time and patience to release something really special shows all over every track on BeforeAfter...make no mistake...

H17 takes a modern approach with an updated sound. Where normally this would be a fresh approach, (I often wondered what an old studio genius band like H17 would do with today's technology), but H17 is neither inventive or genius reducing themselves to what to me sounds like aerobic dance music. Maybe me being the biggest H17 fan is a deterrent. First I gave "Before / After" every chance to succeed (for me) and then giving it the burden of holding up to their classic 80's gems. Probably not fair. There is success here, (It's much better then their previous effort `Bigger than America") but something is amiss. I think it's my high expectations and mild liking of pure dance music. The slower songs are more interesting here (for me) but unfortunately the lyrics are bland and forgettable. And sorry the ultra recognizable `Don't Fear the Reaper' cover is way out of place and simply is not engaging. The track "What Would It Take" sounds like it was written for Christina Aguilera.

Some good points; The best tracks are 'Deeper and Deeper' and "Into the Blue". Angie Brown backing vocals are very welcome through out and Glenn's voice is still top-notch.

I appreciate H17 are still taking a stab in today's world, and this does get slightly better with more listens, but the overall impact is minimal (for me). Also H17 has lost its ability to make interesting cover art. This and `Bigger than America' covers are basically horrible and the title `Before / After" can easily be mistaken as a remix album of old material.

Yes, the Godfathers of electronic pop music are back!..and about time too..Heaven 17 have been responsible for some of the best (and underrated) music of the last 25 years and fans have been waiting a long time for this album..trust me the wait has certainly been well worth it!..9 very soulful,danceable tracks all perfectly produced as you'd expect with Glenn Gregory's voice in fantastic form as always..Before After is the electronic gospel according to Gregory/Marsh/Ware!