In the late '70s, the Human League's slick, Kraftwerk-derived synth pop and Philip Oakey's stiff, declamatory vocals served as novel counterpoint to punk rage, and with "Fascination!" (1983) these Brits scored a legit dance-craze anthem. But their comeback bid crawls. Problem is, the League have long been outflanked – on the left by subversive techno-house marauders (Aphex Twin, Moby, the Prodigy), on the right by (I'm not kidding) that fearsomely efficient pop vehicle Ace of Base. Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley add decent harmonies to tuneful fluff ("Tell Me When," "Cruel Young Lover"), and Oakey almost breaks a sweat – but the gong don't bang. (RS 707)

PAUL EVANS