Rocktrospectiva: The Fairly Good "Romantic?" Turns 35

Released on 17 September 1990 "Romantic?" was the sixth studio album by the English synth-pop band the Human League. It was the band's first album of new material in four years. Romantic? had several producers, most notably Martin Rushent, who worked with the Human League on their biggest commercial success (1981's Dare) and had walked out of the recording sessions for its 1984 follow-up (Hysteria). Also producing several tracks is Mark Brydon, who would be one half of musical duo Moloko several years later. The album spawned two singles "Heart Like A Wheel" & "Soundtrack To A Generation".

Back in 1990, as house music and indie rock began to captured all the airwaves, a renovated Human League with a new-look, made their comeback, the name of album was, Romantic? which was dismissed as dated and irrelevant, despite featuring some colourful, melodic, well-crafted pop tunes, partly thanks to their retention of legendary producer Martin Rushent. His fingerprints were all over the thrilling sequencing on launch single Heart Like A Wheel, a song that would nailed it back in 1983.

The rest of the album is similarly unwilling to grieve for the past, with "A Doorway?"  and the melancholy "Rebound" as their particular highlights, then a few house pop/new jack swing sound-a-like on these "Kiss The Future" was the most obvious nod to the times, with a New Jack Swing rhythm and vocal effects, while The Stars Are Going Out was truly epic.

Unfortunately there were some fillers such as "Mister Moon And Mister Sun" and the twee "Get It Right This Time", and maybe bearable "Soundtrack To A Generation", 

At the time of the album's release, the Human League had reached the nadir of a decline in popularity following the success of Dare nine years prior; this fall from grace was reflected in the song "The Stars Are Going Out", in which the band reflects upon their loss of fame and its impact on them; the song was ditched as a potential third single.

The album signalled a critical and commercial low point for the band, which led to their long-standing contract with Virgin Records being terminated. Nevertheless, the only significant success came from the album's first single "Heart Like a Wheel", which peaked at No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 32 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The second single "Soundtrack to a Generation" charted at No. 77 in the UK. The album itself peaked at No. 24 on the UK Albums Chart, and as a result the band moved to East West Records to release their next album, 1995's Octopus.

 

Romantic? Track List: 

 

1. Kiss The Future

2. A Doorway?

3. Heart Like A Wheel

4. Men Are Dreamers

5. Mister Moon And Mister Sun

6. Soundtrack To A Generation

7. Rebound 

8. The Stars Are Going Out 

9. Let's Get Together Again

10. Get It Right This Time