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The Human League review – immaculate electro pop as radiant now as it was 40 years ago
Philip Oakey’s voice remains rich and pristine and sets the tone for an evening of timeless era-defining tunes
Despite once being regarded as the epitome of synth-washed futurism, tracks such as Mirror Man are a beautiful example of the group’s clear love of the 1960s, with its unquestionable Motown strut being spun into slick electronic soul and with Oakey’s voice working in seamless harmony with those of Susan Ann Sulley and Joanne Catherall. The band lean into the now retro futuristic aesthetic of their peak 1980s era – via keytars, electronic drum kits, neon lights and old school visuals – but while nostalgia may play a role here, there’s still an unshakable pioneering spirit about the music of the Human League. And this is one of the great dichotomies of the Human League today: they remain intrinsically connected to a bygone period – in terms of style, tone and production – yet despite being such an era-defining group, what is most evident this evening is just how utterly timeless this music is.
Or read this on The Guardian