Name: Dare!
Brand: The Human League

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

cdvr2192

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Discs

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2007-10-10

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Universal

Tax rate GB

UPC / Barcode

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

The Human League

Genre GB

New Wave / Post Punk

Label GB

back in stock. 1981's 'dare!' captures a moment in time perfectly - the moment post-punk's robotic fascination with synthesizers met a clinical bowiesque infatuation with fashion and modern art, including pop culture, plus a healthy love of songcraft. the human league had shown much of this on their early singles, such as 'the lebanon,' but on 'dare!' they simply gelled, as their style was supported by music and songs with emotional substance. that doesn't mean that the album isn't arty, since it certainly is, but that's part of its power - the self-conscious detachment enhances the postmodern sense of emotional isolation, obsession with form over content, and love of modernity for its own sake. that's why 'dare!' struck a chord with listeners who didn't like synth pop or the new romantics in 1981, and why it still sounds startlingly original decades after its original release - the technology may have dated, synths and drum machines may have become more advanced, but few have manipulated technology in such an emotionally effective way. of course, that all wouldn't matter if the songs themselves didn't work smashingly, whether it's a mood piece as eerie as 'seconds,' an antianthem like 'the things that dreams are made of,' the danceclub glow of 'love action (i believe in love),' or the utter genius of 'don't you want me,' a devastating chronicle of a frayed romance wrapped in the greatest pop hooks and production of its year. the latter was a huge hit, so much so that it overshadowed the album in the minds of most listeners, yet, for all of its shining brilliance, it wasn't a pop supernova - it's simply the brightest star on this record, one of the defining records of its time.

Dare!

Music GB