Fascination!
A 1983 stop-gap EP by the Human League.
Fascination! is an EP by the English synth-pop band the Human League, released in 1983 as a stop-gap between the albums Dare (1981) and Hysteria (1984). Issued in the US and Canada, it was available in Europe as an import. The original vinyl release contained six tracks, including two versions of the single "(Keep Feeling) Fascination" and the hit "Mirror Man."
Quick Facts
- Artist
- the Human League
- Released
- May 1983
- Genre
- Synth-pop; dance
- Length
- 26:42; 32:37 (with bonus track)
- Label
- Virgin; A&M (US)
- Producer
- Martin Rushent; The Human League
Facts from the source article.
Track listing
Original US/Canada vinyl release
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (Keep Feeling) Fascination (extended version) | Jo Callis, Philip Oakey | 4:56 |
| 2 | Mirror Man | Ian Burden, Callis, Oakey | 3:48 |
| 3 | Hard Times | Callis, Oakey, Philip Adrian Wright | 4:54 |
| 4 | I Love You Too Much | Burden, Callis, Wright | 3:18 |
| 5 | You Remind Me of Gold | Oakey | 3:35 |
| 6 | (Keep Feeling) Fascination (improvisation) | Callis, Oakey | 6:12 |
| 7 | I Love You Too Much (dub version; 2008 digital download bonus track) | Burden, Callis, Wright | 5:54 |
2012 Dare/Fascination! special CD / 2015 Fascination! limited edition single CD
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hard Times/Love Action (I Believe in Love) (instrumental) | 11:08 |
| 2 | Mirror Man | 3:51 |
| 3 | You Remind Me of Gold | 3:38 |
| 4 | (Keep Feeling) Fascination (extended version) | 4:59 |
| 5 | I Love You Too Much | 3:20 |
| 6 | Mirror Man (extended version) | 4:23 |
| 7 | You Remind Me of Gold (instrumental) | 3:54 |
| 8 | (Keep Feeling) Fascination (improvisation) | 6:15 |
| 9 | I Love You Too Much (dub version) | 5:53 |
| 10 | Total Panic | 3:29 |
Track listing from the source article.
Reception
A contemporary review in Creem noted the lack of new material on Fascination!, pointing out that two of the cuts are vocal and instrumental versions of the same song and that only three cuts are 1983-vintage material per their copyright dates, with one from 1982 and two from 1981 filling out the disc. The review commented on the lyrics, stating that the EP is all dance dance dance, with maybe a bit of thinking about dancing thrown in, and that no single phrase was worth quoting among the lyrics, even when Phil Oakey's vocals are at their most drone-authoritative.
It suggested that if one could translate all of Human League's synthesizer sounds into characters and syllables, that would be the whole verbal freight of Fascination!. The review concluded that fans would increasingly be satisfied with prerecorded, undeviatingly swift and sure riffs, and that Human League are the glossiest as they come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which label released Fascination!?
Fascination! was released by Virgin and A&M (US).
Who produced Fascination!?
Fascination! was produced by Martin Rushent and The Human League.
More in A&M Records EPs
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