Heaven 17 - How Men Are (1984) - €10,00

How Men Are is the third studio album by the English synthpop band Heaven 17. It was originally released in September 1984, on the label Virgin. The album peaked at No. 12 in the UK and was certified Silver (60,000 copies sold) by the BPI in October 1984.

Three singles were released from this album: "Sunset Now" (UK#24), "This Is Mine" (UK#23) in 1984, and an edited remix of "...(And That's No Lie)" (UK#52) in early 1985, which was the first Heaven 17 single to fail to reach the UK Top 40 since "Let Me Go" at the end of 1982

It all came together for Heaven 17 on this album, and as a result it is by far their strongest, most brilliant album. Combining their various influences (including R&B, pop, dance, electronica), Heaven 17 fused these styles together to create an almost perfect sound. 

There is simply not a weak track on the album. Highlights are numerous, including the very long but very wonderful "And That's No Lie." 

A strong melody, stunning vocals from Glenn Gregory, and tight production equal a fascinating glimpse into the human struggle. Adding a number of session players, including a guitarist, Heaven 17 was able to expand and build on their solid sound. Gregory is also allowed to branch out on this album and write more personal and political statements that were not clearly heard on their first two albums. 

Fans will not be disappointed, and in fact, this could be the album to win new fans over. "Sunset Now," "Flamedown," and the brilliant "This Is Mine" are just a few of the reasons for this album's greatness.

Side A

A1.  Five Minutes To Midnight - 3:46  

A2.  Sunset Now - 3:35  

A3.  This Is Mine - 3:54  

A4.  The Fuse - 3:05  

A5.  Shame Is On The Rocks - 3:59  

Side B

B1.  The Skin I’m In - 3:29  

B2.  Flamedown - 3:00  

B3.  Reputation - 3:03  

B4.  And That’s No Lie - 10:02 

Notes

Release:  1984

Format:  LP

Genre:  Synth-pop

Label:  Virgin Records

Catalog#  206614-620

Vinyl:  VG

Hoes:  VG

Prijs: €10,00

Heaven 17 - The Luxury Gap (1982)

Artist:  Heaven 17
Title:  The Luxury Gap
Release:  1982
Format:  LP
Label:  B.E.F. Records
Genre:  Synthpop
Catalog#  205337

After creating a marvelous electronic debut, Glenn Gregory, Ian Marsh, and Martyn Ware decided to tamper with their winning formula a bit on Heaven 17's 1983 follow-up to “Penthouse and Pavement”. The result, which added piano, strings, and Earth, Wind, & Fire’s horn section to the band’s cool synthesizer pulse, was even better, and “The Luxury Gap” became one of the seminal albums of the British new wave. The best-known track remains “Let Me Go,” a club hit that features Gregory’s moody, dramatic lead above a percolating vocal and synth arrangement. But even better is the mechanized Motown of “Temptation,” a deservedly huge British smash that got a shot of genuine soul from R&B singer Carol Kenyon. Nearly every song ends up a winner, though, as the album displays undreamed-of range. If beat-heavy techno anthems like “Crushed By the Wheels of Industry” were expected of Heaven 17, the melodic sophistication of “The Best Kept Secret” and “Lady Ice and Mr. Hex” — both of which sound almost like show tunes — wasn’t. If there’s a flaw, it’s that while the band’s leftist messages were more subtle and humorous than most of their time, they still seem rather naïve. But the music, which showed just how warm electro-pop’s usually chilly grooves could be, is another matter entirely.

Side one
1.   Crushed by the Wheels of Industry   (5:54)
2.   Who’ll Stop the Rain   (3:04)
3.   Let Me Go   (4:23)
4.   Key to the World   (3:42)

Side two
1.   Temptation   (3:34)
2.   Come Live With Me   (4:18)
3.   Lady Ice and Mr Hex   (3:46)
4.   We Live So Fast   (3:49)
5.   The Best Kept Secret   (5:09)

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