Mon 8 Dec – The Human League, ABC, Heaven 17

This is the second year running for us seeing The Human League just before Christmas at Hammy A. It’s becoming our Jack and The Beanstalk. Except that the pedigree of these three bands raises this above the ‘80s nostalgia panto circuit.

Heaven 17 get things off to a good start with (We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang and close with a barnstorming Temptation which is as good as anything I’ve heard live this year.

It would be tempting to say that ABC are the cheese in the sandwich except they’re far too knowing for that. Still, we get all the expected hits: Poison Arrow, When Smokey Sings and The Look of Love. Martin Fry still looking sharp.

Then the headliners. Last year we got Dare all the way through. This year, although there are tracks from all parts of HL's career, that album still dominates the setlist, from opener Seconds, through the highlights Open Your Heart, Love Action (I Believe in Love) and The Sound of the Crowd, to the inevitable Don’t You Want Me. But having an album as good as that in your armoury is no bad thing at all.

Same time, same place next year then…….

Temptation by Heaven 17 just came up on my Last.FM personal radio station, now it must be about a year since I last heard that particular track yet in the strange way the world works quite recently I was privileged enough to be present as Martyn Ware of Heaven 17 talked about the recording and release of that track during the course of being interviewed by a journalist.

Sun 30 Nov – The Human League, ABC, Heaven 17

Sunday night was freezing fog all the way down. So we were glad of the chips from the local kebab shop prior to this musical mini-marathon.

Heaven 17 had the unenviable task of opening the first night of the Steel City tour and, unfortunately, the first couple of numbers weren't great. However, they soon got into the swing of it and played half an hour of hits with the odd album track (Fascist Groove, Penthouse...). Two fabulous lady backing singers held it all together and by the time an acid house version of Temptation closed the set, we were all jumping about.

Someone had had the foresight of putting together a superb collection of 80s electronica as incidental music and we got Associates, Grace Jones, The Normal, Depeche Mode, Cabaret Voltaire and many others.

Then ABC took to the stage. They were polished and engaging and Martin's vocals were as excellent as ever. They ran through the hits with pzazz and showbiz nous.

Finally The Human League came and stood on the three large white squares which had been carefully revealed for them. Behind Phil and the girls were a couple of keyboards, a drummer, a mulit-instrumentalists guitar/keyboard player who jumped about madly and two banks of modular equipment which blinked away behind everyone - I'll come back to that later...

Phil is the perfact showman - he dots about the stage ensuring everyone gets a good look at him, and he certainly looks great for a man of his age. The same must be said of Suzanne (not that she's a man...;)), who wore the shortest dress I have ever seen.

The graphics used in many of the songs were the same as in the Dare! tour from 2007 but projected on to the large metal structures above and on the front of the band's podium.

There was a wee problem in The Lebanon when a technical hitch dropped half of the drums twenty seconds into the song. Phil bravely sang through the whole song before remarking with a red face that it was probably the most unusual version they'd played! We didn't care, it still sounded great.

Once again, as on the Dare! tour, the two encores were Being Boiled and Electric Dreams and for a Second, it was 1980 again... for a Second!

WTII Records WTII 051 CD

Die Young : Stay Pretty, is the debut release from the South London Duo, The Thought Criminals. Their sound can only be described as an EBM laced Sci-fi/80’s/Electro Punk montage. Programmer/Musician Kirlian Blue, supplies the backdrop for frontman Rocky Goode’s tongue & cheek vocals. Die Young: Stay Pretty, is a 10 track album which contains 3 bona fide singles: The catchy pop hit "(I'm Gonna Be A) Celebrity," the old school EBM "Date Rape Lovers" and the explosive "My Baby's a Suicide Bomber." In addition to the album tracks, Die Young: Stay Pretty, includes seven bonus remixes that will be sure to pack dance floors across the globe.

You Can Pre Order the album now from:
WTII RECORDS (usa)
http://www.wtiirecords.com/releases/release.php?id=wtii051
STORMING THE BASE (canada)
http://www.stormingthebase.com/details.asp?ProdID=7798
POPONAUT (europe)
http://www.poponaut.de/product_info.php?products_id=5428

TRACK LISTING CAN BE HEARD IN FULL ON LAST FM
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Thought+Criminals/Die+Young+%3A+Stay+Pretty




The Thought Criminals music appeals to fans of:
Soft Cell, Visage, Tubeway Army, Pop Will Eat Itself, Gary Numan, John Foxx, Ultravox, Goldfrapp, Ladytron, Berlin, Kirlian Camera, Covenant, Sex Pistols,Front 242, Depeche ModeProdigy, Nitzer Ebb, Cabaret Voltaire, Pulp, New Order, VNV Nation,Toyah, Heaven 17, Mesh, De/Vision, TIK & TOK, Shock, The Human League

WTII Records WTII 051 CD

Die Young : Stay Pretty, is the debut release from the South London Duo, The Thought Criminals. Their sound can only be described as an EBM laced Sci-fi/80’s/Electro Punk montage. Programmer/Musician Kirlian Blue, supplies the backdrop for frontman Rocky Goode’s tongue & cheek vocals. Die Young: Stay Pretty, is a 10 track album which contains 3 bona fide singles: The catchy pop hit "(I'm Gonna Be A) Celebrity," the old school EBM "Date Rape Lovers" and the explosive "My Baby's a Suicide Bomber." In addition to the album tracks, Die Young: Stay Pretty, includes seven bonus remixes that will be sure to pack dance floors across the globe.

You Can Pre Order the album now from:
WTII RECORDS (usa)
http://www.wtiirecords.com/releases/release.php?id=wtii051
STORMING THE BASE (canada)
http://www.stormingthebase.com/details.asp?ProdID=7798
POPONAUT (europe)
http://www.poponaut.de/product_info.php?products_id=5428

TRACK LISTING CAN BE HEARD IN FULL ON LAST FM
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Thought+Criminals/Die+Young+%3A+Stay+Pretty




The Thought Criminals music appeals to fans of:
Soft Cell, Visage, Tubeway Army, Pop Will Eat Itself, Gary Numan, John Foxx, Ultravox, Goldfrapp, Ladytron, Berlin, Kirlian Camera, Covenant, Sex Pistols,Front 242, Depeche ModeProdigy, Nitzer Ebb, Cabaret Voltaire, Pulp, New Order, VNV Nation,Toyah, Heaven 17, Mesh, De/Vision, TIK & TOK, Shock, The Human League

WTII Records WTII 051 CD

Die Young : Stay Pretty, is the debut release from the South London Duo, The Thought Criminals. Their sound can only be described as an EBM laced Sci-fi/80’s/Electro Punk montage. Programmer/Musician Kirlian Blue, supplies the backdrop for frontman Rocky Goode’s tongue & cheek vocals. Die Young: Stay Pretty, is a 10 track album which contains 3 bona fide singles: The catchy pop hit "(I'm Gonna Be A) Celebrity," the old school EBM "Date Rape Lovers" and the explosive "My Baby's a Suicide Bomber." In addition to the album tracks, Die Young: Stay Pretty, includes seven bonus remixes that will be sure to pack dance floors across the globe.

You Can Pre Order the album now from:
WTII RECORDS (usa)
http://www.wtiirecords.com/releases/release.php?id=wtii051
STORMING THE BASE (canada)
http://www.stormingthebase.com/details.asp?ProdID=7798
POPONAUT (europe)
http://www.poponaut.de/product_info.php?products_id=5428

TRACK LISTING CAN BE HEARD IN FULL ON LAST FM
http://www.last.fm/music/The+Thought+Criminals/Die+Young+%3A+Stay+Pretty




The Thought Criminals music appeals to fans of:
Soft Cell, Visage, Tubeway Army, Pop Will Eat Itself, Gary Numan, John Foxx, Ultravox, Goldfrapp, Ladytron, Berlin, Kirlian Camera, Covenant, Sex Pistols,Front 242, Depeche ModeProdigy, Nitzer Ebb, Cabaret Voltaire, Pulp, New Order, VNV Nation,Toyah, Heaven 17, Mesh, De/Vision, TIK & TOK, Shock, The Human League

List your top 25 artists on Last.fm.
01) Depeche Mode
02) Pop Levi
03) OK Go
04) Echo & the Bunnymen
05) Bauhaus
06) Ramones
07) We Are Scientists
08) MGMT
09) Muse
10) Billy Squier
11) Garbage
12) Patrick Wolf
13) Scritti Politti
14) The Doors
15) Simple Minds
16) The Damned
17) Einstürzende Neubauten
18) Def Leppard
19) Rammstein
20) The Ruts
21) INXS
22) Thomas Dolby
23) [Soundtrack]
24) The Jeremy Kyles
25) Heaven 17


Now answer the questions according to the numbers:

What was the first song you ever heard by 6?
I have no idea! I've been listening to the Ramones all my life, hah!

What is your favorite album by 2?
Lol, I haven't listened to a whole album by Pop Levi...

What is your favorite lyric that 1 has sung?
Ohh, there's too many! Depeche Mode have so many perfect lyrics I can relate to. Maybe "You know how hard it is for me
To shake the disease
That takes hold of my tongue
In situations like these"
Shake the Disease

How many times have you seen 11 live?
Never.

What is your favorite song by 7?
I can't really choose one favourite but i'll go for Textbook. It's just so heartfelt.

What is a good memory you have involving 20?
Umm... listening to the Ruts, haha.

Is there a song by 3 that makes you sad?
Not really... they make me happy.

What is your favorite lyric that 14 has sung?
"Father, I want to kill you. Mother, I want to... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHH!!!"
amazing. The End

What is your favorite song by 19?
Moskau. I love the russian girl bits, lol.

How did you get in to 22?
I saw the video for She Blinded Me With Science on some countdown show, and I thought, "woah, this guy is fantastic!"

What was the first song you heard by 21?
Dunno... could've been anything really.

What is your favorite song by 4?
I CAN'T CHOOSE!

How many time have you seen 10 live?
I haven't.

What is a good memory you have involving 13?
Dunno... Becki remembers what they're called for some reason, she said she'd memorised a few of the artists I listen to, hah.

Is there a song by 23 that makes you sad?
Well, they're not an artist, so there's pretty much any sort of song there. But soundtracks usually make me happy :)

What is your favorite album of 15?
Sparkle in the Rain

What is your favorite lyric that 9 has sung?
OMG, there are waaaaaaay too many. Muse are incredible lyric-wise. Let me find one I love...
"And they make me
Make me dream your dreams
And they make me
Make me scream your screams" - Showbiz

What is your favorite song by 8?
Boogie Down - The verses are so different from the chorus, and the lyrics are really crazy and then so cute. And it reminds me a little of myself :)

What is your favorite song by 5?
Dunno... I'll say She's in Parties because it's the one i've known since forever.

How many times have you seen 16 live?
Never, but i'd really love to! I'd want Captain Sensible to be there, though.

What is your favorite album by 12?
N/A. Haven't listened to an album, I just have lots of random songs of his.

What is a good memory you have involving 25?
Hmmm... maybe just painting while listening to Come Live With Me on repeat.

What was the first song you heard by 18?
Who knows?

What is your favorite song by 17?
Weil Weil Weil

Welcome to the Department of Aural History. This week Extended Play engages in some reverse archaeology, bringing you a kaleidoscope of re-interpretations of yummies and unsavouries. Selections from all over the pantry, with a particular high-light on the spicy platters from the new limited "Recovery" 10x7inch box set on Fractured Recordings - http://www.fracturedrecordings.com.

Thanks again if you’ve subscribed to Extended Play/2SER during Rewards Radiothon. Remember you can still do so, either by emailing us directly (extendedplay@2ser.com) or by contacting the station - Call 02 9514 9500 or subscribe online - https://www.donations.com.au/2ser/subscribe.asp, but make sure you’re paid up by 11 November if you want to go in the draw for the prizes.


Robert Henke - Lucifer
(“Recovery” 10x7inch compilation - 2008, Fractured)
(original by The Alan Parsons Project - from “Eve” - 1979, Arista)

The Human League - Reach Out (I'll Be There) (Instrumental)
(“The Golden Hour Of The Future” - 1977, Black Melody)
(original by The Four Tops - from “Reach Out I'll Be There/Until You Love Someone” 7inch - 1966, Motown)

Michaela Melián - Manifesto
(“Los Angeles” - 2007, Monika)
(original by Roxy Music - from “Manifesto” - 1979, EG)

Martin L. Gore - Compulsion
(“Counterfeit EP” - 1989, Mute)
(original by Joe Crow - from “Compulsion” 7inch - 1982, Cherry Red)

Masha Qrella - Goodnight Lovers
(“Monika Bärchen: Songs For Bruno, Knut & Tom” compilation - 2007, Monika)
(original by Depeche Mode - from “Exciter” - 2001, Mute)

7 Hurtz with Peaches - Sexy Dancer
(“Controversy” compilation - 2008, Rapster)
(original by Prince - from “Prince” - 1979, Warner Bros.)

The Soft Pink Truth - Real Shocks
(“Do You Want New Wave Or Do You Want The Soft Pink Truth?” - 2004, Soundslike)
(original by Swell Maps - from “Real Shocks/English Verse/Monologues” 7inch - 1979, Rough Trade)

Laibach - Dogs Of War
(“NATO” - 1994, Mute)
(original by Pink Floyd - from “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” - 1987, EMI)

Borghesia - Ohm Sweet Ohm
(“Trans Slovenia Express” compilation - 1994, Mute)
(original by Kraftwerk - from “Radioaktivität” - 1975, EMI)

Heaven 17 - Are Everything
(“I'm Your Money” 12inch - 1981, Virgin)
(original by Buzzcocks - from “Are Everything/Why She's A Girl From The Chain Store” 7inch - 1980, United Artists)

People Like Us & Ergo Phizmiz - Mull Of Kintyre
(“Recovery” 10x7inch compilation - 2008, Fractured)
(original by Wings - from “Mull Of Kintyre” 7inch - 1977, Capitol)

Leila - Norwegian Wood (feat. Luca Santucci)
(“Blood Looms And Blooms” - 2008, Warp)
(original by The Beatles - from “Rubber Soul” - 1965, Parlophone)

Señor Coconut - Firecracker
(“Yellow Fever” - 2006, Essay)
(original by Martin Denny - from “Quiet Village” - 1959, Liberty)

Hamster Dragster - In The Year 2525
(“Songs Of Loss And Despair” single - 2008, Metal Postcard)
(original by Zager & Evans - from “In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)” 7inch - 1969, rca)

Alva Noto - Planet Rock
(“Recovery” 10x7inch compilation - 2008, Fractured)
(original by Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force - from “Planet Rock” single - 1983, Tommy Boy)

The Bollock Brothers - Loud, Loud, Loud/The Seventh Seal
(“The Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse” - 1985, Charly)
(original by Aphrodite's Child - from “666” - 1972, Vertigo)


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