Human League HYSTERIA

Personnel: Jo Callis (vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Philip Oakey (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Susanne Sulley, Joanne Catherall (vocals); Ian Burden (guitar, keyboards, synthesizer); Philip Adrian Wright (keyboards, synthesizer); Jim Russell (programming); Martin Rushent (drum programming).
Audio Mixer: Hugh Padgham.
Recording information: Air And Townhouse Studios.
Photographer: Simon Fowler .
1981's worldwide smash DARE! was a difficult record to follow up, and the Human League waited too long. Following the excellent stopgap EP FASCINATION, the band finally reappeared in the spring of 1984 with HYSTERIA, a worthy follow-up which took the highest points of DARE! and added just enough new wrinkles to keep from sounding like a mere retread.
The sly "Don't You Know I Want You" is a tongue-in-cheek example. The harsher "The Lebanon" even introduces guitar to the band's synthesizer sound, but it's touching ballads like "Life on Your Own" and "Louise" which have the biggest impact. (Unfortunately, the remake of "I Love You Too Much," which had appeared in a far superior version on FASCINATION, is something of a botch.) HYSTERIA is a fine synthpop album, but by 1984, the year of the first Smiths album and other indie guitar breakthroughs, the Human League seemed old hat.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Rock