When The Human League set about creating their masterpiece album Dare, the manifesto was simple; no ‘real’ instruments. Despite factors that could easily have worked against them – the perceived sterility of synthesizers, roping in two schoolgirls picked up in a nightclub to sing backup and possessing a lead singer who looked good but sang flatter than a steamrolled pancake – they defied the odds, crafting a classic both of its time and of pop in general.

MMMmmm, wise hairstyle choice, Phil...

Clips for the collection of unforgettable singles from Dare all feature here (including the ‘proper’ promo for Love Action, not the performance vid used on TV in Australia), along with some earlier efforts including those who nicked off to form Heaven 17 (although criminally Being Boiled only appears as sonic accompaniment to menus) and later hits and misses, leading to a downward slide as outside influences broke what was very much fixed to start with.

Still, the Giorgio Moroder assisted gem Together in Electric Dreams pops its catchy-as head up (despite really being a Phil Oakey solo effort) and the lyrical delight that is The Lebanon (“and where there used to be some shops…�) still raises an affectionate giggle. Ultimately there’s more good here than bad – just use ‘skip’ for the abominable Human and you’ll be sorted.

Full track listing…

Naturally a 4:3 presentation, as usual older clips don’t fare so well visually, especially the cheap effects-laden Open Your Heart. As expected, things improve as age gets closer to the now, although nothing ever deserves being rated as stunning.

The Linear PCM audio, however, is fabulously bass-heavy and clean. If only other such releases of older classics had this much love applied to their remastering.

Extras-wise, four early TV appearances from Top of the Pops are a treat (The Sound of the Crowd, Love Action, Open Your Heart and Don’t You Want Me), while two grabs from Jools Holland’s Later… in the 1990s also impress (The Stars are Going Out and The Sound of the Crowd). Same-old DVD-ROM features are nothing special (a web link, discography, backgrounds and screensaver), however a recently recorded, decidedly un-glam interview is both reverent and informative – and novel for the fact that Oakey looks better than ever, while sadly the girls, well…