Secrets

Human League | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 30, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ark 21
• ASIN: B00005R8GE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,769 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars... best League album since "Dare", June 12, 2004

By 

Paul Allaer (Cincinnati) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secrets (Audio CD)

It's hard to believe it's been another 3 years since the Human League released "Secrets", easily their best release since "Dare". There was a time when the League had lost direction, but their excellent 1995 "come-back" album "Octupus" brought the band back to the basics that brought success in the first place.

"Secrets" (16 tracks, 51 min.) is essentially a collage of 10 'regular' songs and 6 instrumentals. Those regular songs are great. It's Phil Oakley up front with of course Joanne and Susan Anne providing back up vocals (and lead on "Never Give Your Heart"). Best tracks include "All I Ever Wanted" (a hit in Europe, and a classic League tune), "Liar" and the best of all: "Reflections", a 6+ min. blow-out that will rock your body, the 'outro' is just fab. As for those instrumentals, they actually work really well, and don't interrupt the flow of the album at all.

It took 6 years for the band to follow-up "Octupus" with "Secrets". It's been already 3 years, and I guess I shouldn't be holding out for another new League album anytime soon. But I wish they'd hurry up already!! If you like "Dare", don't hesitate buying this, you will not be disappointed!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The return of the League  all you ever wanted, September 9, 2001

By 

Si Wooldridge (Chippenham, Wiltshire England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets (Audio CD)

So here it is, the return of the Human League. It seems like forever since the release of it's predecessor Octopus, but the League have a tradition of long waits between albums. For most bands this causes problems, but the League seem to have spent the time rather wisely. Critics have given this a lukewarm reception and harken it as a return to the sound of Dare. Sorry, this doesn't go back that far as they have moved on quite a distance from that sound. Although I suppose if you were a typical music hack, it would probably be your only point of reference even though the League have released about 7 proper albums (one of which was the awful Crash whose only redeeming feature was the classic Human).

Returning with essentially the same sound as the last album Octopus, the League have enhanced it with more up-to-date electronic beats and rhythms. As well as the normal 3-4 minute songs, there are a number of shorter tracks that are essentially instrumental soundscapes. Fortunately these do not detract from the overall sound or style of the album and are impressive enough to wonder if a bit more development could have lead to full blown songs.

Phil Oakey and the girls do their thing rather well, Phil doing his deep vocals and Suzanne & Jo doing their harmonising. You know exactly what you're getting with this trio and they don't disappoint. Another League tradition is Phils dodgy lyrics and they're here too "You're like that woman out of Species", "You're a cocktail set Atilla, a kind of halcyon guerrilla". Maybe not for the purists, but they fit with the overall message he is trying to get across and the one you can't accuse him of is banality (unlike a lot of modern bands).

Fav tracks: All I Ever Wanted, Shameless, Never Give Your Heart, The Snake & Reflections.

Overall a solid return to form, just hope we don't have to wait too long for the next one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sheffields trio's, November 30, 2003

By 

"cssuperstar2003" (Wilmington, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets (Audio CD)

Musical trends come and go and many acts have disappeared with the genres that have died a quick death.
For all of the new forms of dance music that have come and gone in the past two decades - disco, New Wave,New Jack, House,then techno,trance,garage,then hip- hop / R&B to rap, Sheffield England's Human League have (in on and off forms) had been on the pulse point at almost every juncture
Some would find that point of contention to be laughable considering that the group haven't charted in North America since 1986"s "Human" from the disaster of an album that was "Crash".


With the release of 2001 "Secrets", their first since 1995"s "Octopus",any thoughs that have been bandied about that Human League were just an 80's band may need to re- evaluate such an assessment after listening to this bossy and glossy collection of songs
The production techniques employed by singer Philip Oakley in conjunction with producers Neil Sutton and Dave Beevers,are to envied. Though arguably over- produced, "Secrets" is an album that flows well between the instrumentals (of which there are seven) and the vocal tracks. As it is customary with The League, there are the occassional bouncy pop flavored tunes such as "Liar", the weak and campy "You'll Be Sorry" and the album's opening cut, the predictable "All I Ever Wanted". The band take some journeys into other territories of dance aphelia - a bit of techno-trance vibe on "Love Me Madly? and "BPM", two tracks that quite honestly fall in the take or leave it category. The moments that sparkle on this LP shine very brightly and BOLDLY.
"Shameless" hears Oakley spending part of his time singing through a vocoder in muted form,supported in harmonicaly funky fashion by Jo Anne Catherall and Susan Gayle (formerly Susan Sulley). The tempo changes here and on other choice cuts eliminate the stagnation that often times kills originality and staying power on dance tracks in this day and age.
Further proof lies in the heavy bass and outrageously smooth blend of techno and funk riffs on "The Snake", and the addition of an instrument chiming in at every bridge of the instrumental "Ringinglow". From the synth intro, to the foxtrot beat and the sprinkling of added percussion to a methodical buildup, make this a scrumptous recipe that leaves the listener begging for the story to continue.
The seamless sequence of instrumental to song continues to work seamlessly on the hypnotic "Lament" (a dream backing track for anyone looking to use music for film and broadcasting purposes)to the dark and mysterious funk of "Refections",where Oakley lays a spooky premise - "outside the last remaining shadows of the day too vague to make out- DeChirio has packed his case and left abandoning his stake out".He comprehensively follows up in mid-stream - "from the birth of a child to the loss of a friend each of fragment of meaning to me". The blending of well though out lyrics, superior production,and the repeated tactic of breaking down danceable tempo is capped off by "Sin City" where Catherall preaches her case through the vocoder while Oakley continues his role of poet with the pre 9-11 lyrics - " confidence at a stand still, daylight only a smear, tension you could handle chokes the thick atmosphere".
Strings,gloss, well- timed tempo shifts, and synth that soars in from no where complete the menu here.
On the whole, "Secrets" compares favorably with their chart- topping "Dare" LP of 1981 some twenty years before,the commericially unsuccessful but critically acclaimed "Hysteria"(1984), and "Octopus (1995).

Though lacking a solid ballad or two like "Octopus", pre- cluding it from having the balance worthy of five- star billing,the stream- lined approach of inter- locking instrumentals with standard tracks, and a deeper pool of songs to swim in,"Secrets" is a powerful and funky rock - solid four star album.