Octopus

The Human League: Philip Oakey (vocals, programming); Joanne Catherall, Susan Ann Sulley (vocals).
Additional personnel: Paul Beckett, Jo Callis, Russell Dennett, Chris Hughes, Neil Sutton (various instruments); Ian Stanley, Andy Gray, Chris Hughes, Andy Wright (programming).
Recorded between February and August, 1994.
1995's OCTOPUS--continuing a trend of such extended time between Human League releases that every new album is perceived as a comeback attempt--finds guitarist/keyboardist Jo Callis back in the band for the first time in over a decade. Perhaps it's Callis' presence or perhaps it's the then-current explosion of interest in MTV-era '80s pop, but OCTOPUS sounds more like DARE!-era Human League than anything the band had done in the intervening years. From the catchy and melodic opening track "Tell Me When" to the closing "Cruel Young Lover," singers Phil Oakey, Susanne Sulley and Joanne Catherall glide through an impressive collection of good old-fashioned synthpop tunes with refreshingly few misguided attempts to fit into prevailing commercial trends. The appearance of a tune as brilliantly titled as "John Cleese: Is He Funny?" is equally commendable.