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Rating: After the masterpiece “Reproduction”, much more was expected from the Human League. However, less than a year later, they pull out of the hat an album that stands right in the middle between its illustrious predecessor and the honest pop of “Dare!” without really knowing which side to lean on. It is, in fact, a work that is neither fish nor fowl, neither experimental nor pop, but a confused middle ground.
The symbol of such regression is the track “Being boiled”, so splendidly essential and austere in the single version, yet burdened and unnecessarily overproduced in the album version, infested with sound effects and gratuitous arrangements.
However, the bad surprises do not end here, but continue with mediocre melodies and the aforementioned questionable production of “Only after dark”, “Crow and a baby”, “The touchables”, “Gordon’s gin”, and “W.X.J.L. tonight”, “Marianne”, “Boys and girls”, “Cruel”, and the dismal, aimless experimentation of “Dreams of leaving”.
The only points of interest on the album are “The black hit of space”, a small sci-fi masterpiece worthy of the tracks from “Reproduction”, the instrumentals “Dancevision” and “Tom Baker”, and the curious double cover medley “Rock’n’roll/Night clubbing”, in which the first part offers an amusing reinterpretation of Gary Glitter's song, and the second an interpretation of a piece by Iggy Pop that Depeche Mode would cherish in the nineties.
However, a few valid episodes are not enough to save such an unconvincing album.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 The Black Hit of Space (04:14)
Been out all night, I needed a bite, I thought I'd put a record on
I reached for the one with the ultra-modern label, and wondered where the light had gone
It had a futuristic cover, lifted straight from Buck Rogers
The record was so black it had to be a con
The autochanger switched as I filled my sandwich
And futuristic sounds warbled off and on
The black hit of space
It's the one without a face
It's the one that doesn't fit
You can only see the flip
The black hit of space
Sucking in the human race
How can it stay at the top
When it's swallowed all the shops
As the song climbed the charts, the others disappeared
Til there was nothing but it left to buy
It got to number one, then into minus figures
Though nobody could understand why
The black hit of space
It's the one without a face
It's the one that doesn't fit
You can only see the flip
The black hit of space
Sucking in the human race
How can it stay at the top
When it's swallowed all the shops
I couldn't stand this bland sound any more so I walked towards my deck to turn it off
All I could see was the B-side of the disc which had assumed a doughnut shape with the label on the outside rim
I reached for the arm which was less than one micron long but weighed more than Saturn and time stood still
I knew I had to escape but every time I tried to flee, the record was in front of me
The black hit of space
Get James Burke on the case
It's the hit that's never gone
Time stops when you put it...[on]
02 Only After Dark (03:53)
I feel my spirit fly
Only after dark - ahh
I kiss the world goodbye
Only after dark - ahh
Fight with the city lights
Only after dark - ahh
Run, I'd like to run away
Only after dark - ahh
Won't you disappear into midnight with me
Why don't you come, why don't you come, why don't you fly, fly, fly with
Sweet elusive Fate ,will be our company
Bring out the vamp in me
Only after dark - ahh
Moon, sinful as can be
Only after dark - ahh
It's wrong to feel so free (!)
Only after dark - ahh
Only you know it can be
Only after dark - ahh
Won't you disappear into midnight with me
Why don't you come, why don't you come, why don't you fly, fly, fly with
Sweet elusive In Fade , will be our company
Personal Note from John Von Ahlen :
I give up. Anybody who knows what the words are in the chorus - PLEASE - email me!
I just can't figure it out :
06 Crow and a Baby (03:46)
A crow and a baby
Had an affair
The result was a landslide
The result was a dare
The result was a baby
Who wanted it all
Moved out of the doll's house
Moved out of the hall
With one wing on the town and a gleam in an eye of red
Said "My father was a crow, now I want all fathers dead
Find the fathers of this world, treat them as a fatal foe
Put them in the deepest hole, then cover the pit with snow"
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
I'm just trying to tell you what you'll come up against
If you venture from my side, If you think you're so mature
You will end up in a field, you will be someone's manure
Mushrooms growing from your back
Feeding some damn carrion bird
Do you want to contribute
To the corruption of the world?
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
A crow and a baby
Had an affair
My dream was the baby
The crow was your hair
Parts of me love parts of you
That at least is obvious
Give my baby back to me
You must see it's only just
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
With one wing on the town
And a gleam in an eye of red
07 The Touchables (03:24)
Speaking of which, what is your choice
Your conversation will suffice
I feel the need that's known to all
Better use it up before the levels fall
You can take me back to the primal drive
You can carry on until we arrive
Hypnotised inside
Now I'm not young and you're not old
I'd rather purchase than be sold
Crazed friends so bold
It's not easy to conceal
When you're so touchable
People will hide indifference
Just to be touchable
They still emit split second screams
When they are touchable
Under the surface just for kicks
Sincerely touchable
You say it's okay, but what do I feel
Guilt, compassion, or Achilles Heel
Little feet march down grey matter hill
Then panic occurs, no seeds to spill
What's the matter now
Please look up and speak
Your spirit's wilting and your flesh is weak
Eight days a week
I can't imagine what'll happen now
I wonder when and I wonder how
The end will come
It's not easy to conceal
When you're so touchable
People will hide indifference
Just to be touchable
It's not easy to conceal
When you're so touchable
People will hide indifference
Just to be touchable
They still emit split second screams
When they are touchable
Under the surface just for kicks
Sincerely touchable
The final answer to all our fears
Abrupt conclusion to all our years
Still touchable but no one hears
They carry on hypnotised inside
09 Being Boiled (04:25)
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
Little people like your offspring
Boiled alive for some Gods stocking
Buddha's watching, Buddha's waiting
Just because the kid's an orphan
Is no excuse for thoughtless slaying
People don't forget this torture
Just because you call her mother
Doesn't mean that she's your better
Once more with the voice of Buddha
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Saying stop your sericulture
He'll say carry on your slaughter
Who cares for the little children
You may slice with no conviction
Blind revenge on a blameless victim
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
Listen to the voice of Buddha
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