Reproductions: Songs of the Human League

They Say...

Review by Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide

Tribute albums can be a tricky affair; most music lovers who own more than one usually don't approach them with glee. Reproductions is that rare specimen in the world of tribute albums...it's a brilliant success. The bubblegum bands covering The Human League here seem to have an actual respect, if not love, for the source material. Three of the bands are from Momus' Le Grand Magistery label, including Momus himself, Stars, and Baxendale. Three songs are also doled-out to Stephin Merritt in his various guises of The 6ths, Future Bible Heroes, and, ahem...Stephin Merritt. The Stephin Merritt track is actually just 30 seconds of throwaway noise, so don't let it's inclusion trick you into thinking there's an additional Merritt nugget, when only two of his tracks even register. Somehow, his songs are not the stand-outs, despite the inspiring, on paper, pairing of Merritt and Lloyd Cole on "Human." Optiganally Yours' cover of "Empire State Human" provides probably the most fun, sounding a bit like Psychic TV crossed with The Beach Boys. The most surprising treat of the tribute is "The Black Hit of Space" as performed by The Hidden Variable; it's a futuristic goth expedition, bridging together the unknown divide between The Human League and Skinny Puppy. The Momus track starts out a bit slow, but ultimately takes on a creepiness not hinted at on the original. "Stay With Me Tonight" sees Stars in an effortless, pretty shuffle, sounding more than a bit like late-period Boo Radley's. Reproductions: Songs of the Human League is a joy; members of The Human League should feel as if they've been handed a sincere compliment with this album.