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THE REVIEW
Emerging in Sheffield in '78, the Human League debuted under the influence of industrial sounds, the prevailing trend at that time in their city. After a debut album as ambitious as it was superfluous, they recorded two more albums characterized by electronic experiments with a clear techno-robotic origin, Reproduction and Travelogue, the latter with slight soul undertones. Before long, however, Philip Oakey, the "master" of the project, realized that to gain broad visibility, they needed to lean towards a pop format and melody.
After parting ways with the other two keyboardists, Ian Marsh and Martyn Ware, he revolutionized the lineup, which had now become a quintet. Thus, in 1981, the new Human League released this album, which definitively set the standard to which all aspiring electro-pop bands had to refer. Dare is indeed a generational album, a progenitor of a whole series of imitators. Regardless of its artistic value, it marked an era, a sound that is immediately identifiable upon first listen. Whether one likes it or not is another matter, but it did have an impact. In a "pop-ular" genre, but it did.
Music for the boardwalk, to be listened to on that old and legendary jukebox while refreshing oneself with the equally legendary magic-cola Eldorado, between a game of Pac-man and a round of foosball. In short, it's one of the few albums that reveals a precise moment, a time that once was.
"The Things That Dream Are Made Of" is a very clear example of the summer melodies of this album, with a synth loop and detached singing as was the fashion, as well as the sunny refrain of "Open Your Heart," or the romance of "Darkness."
The compelling rhythm of "Do Or Die" takes us onto the dance floors with the naive colorful lights of the era, while "Seconds" rises on an epic synth lament.
"Love Action (I Believe In You)" is another club track, which heralds the final song, that "Don't You Want Me" we've all heard at least once in our lives. Certainly the most famous song by the Human League, with that honeyed female voice and that ultra-catchy chorus representing an anthem of the '80s.
We're not talking about music for refined ears, that's for sure, but sometimes it's nice to be carried away by a bit of nostalgia, by a bit of pleasant lightness.
For those who fell victim to the '80s.
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Summary by Bot
The Human League's 1981 album Dare represents a landmark in electro-pop music, blending catchy melodies with synthesizer-driven soundscapes. Following a lineup change, Philip Oakey led the band toward a more accessible pop sound that defined 80s electro-pop. From dancefloor hits to sentimental ballads, this album captures a distinct era's mood and remains influential as a cultural and musical milestone.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
The Human League
The Human League are a British synth-pop group formed in Sheffield in 1977. After early experimental records (Reproduction, Travelogue), they achieved worldwide success with Dare (1981) and the No.1 single “Don’t You Want Me”. Following a 1980 split that led Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh to form Heaven 17, Philip Oakey steered the band into a pioneering pop era with vocalists Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, continuing a long career with hits like “Human” and “Tell Me When.”05 Reviews
Other reviews
By gnoato
"Dare! is a great album, a symbol of the English new romantic, of the ripe times for mass electronic music."
"After the reproduction ends, you remember the album, its notes resonate in your mind and make you want to hear it again."
