£10.00
It was to be 7 years out of the spotlight until Karel Fialka returned to form with a smash hit single "Hey Matthew" and the album "Human Animal" back in 1988 on Miles Copeland's International Record Syndicate (I.R.S.) imprint, Copeland the former manager of The Police had an array of artists on the label including; R.E.M. / Gary Numan & Roy Harper to name a few.
Recording took place at The Old Barn Studio down in Croydon Surrey, which was owned by Matthew Fisher (Procol Harum) who also had big input on both the Hey Matthew single & the album Human Animal. Karel Fialka solely produced 8 of the 13 tracks on the original CD release with the rest co-produced with the multi-talented Nick Magnus (The Enid / Steve Hackett of Genesis) Dean Klevatt (Lene-Lovich / Thomas Dolby) also produced on the album alongside Magnus including a re-working of Karel's 1980 hit single "The Eyes Have It!" & one of the two further singles to be released from the Human Animal album titled "Eat, Drink, Dance, Relax" a catchy upbeat tune with some sexy waitress ready to be of service whilst singing along in the background, back track 4 steps and anyone could see she knew you were ready for it (track 4 being "Ready For It Now")
The sophisticated pop song-craft of the later single "You Be The Judge" was produced by Fialka, a very atmospheric piece with an underlying ambiance from the heart felt backing vocals, blended with Fialka's soulful vocals makes it clearly a highlight of the album & is definitely overripe.
Human Animal is a very rhythmic album with the aid of some very clever programming from Fialka & his team alongside some beautiful synth pads, which help set a very melancholy atmosphere at times, with the nervous presence of the track "Undercurrents" being a good example. So take this human animal and you be the judge as I'm sure Karel will not hold a grudge. You have your chance, don't you turn around. LEE SIMEONE Dec '09
Human Animal was originally released on I.R.S. CD IRSD-42252
Re-issued Tracks;
01 Sun In My Eyes
02 Hey Matthew
03 You Be The Judge
04 Ready For It Now
05 Undercurrents
06 This City
07 The Eyes Have It
08 Eat, Drink, Dance, Relax
09 Human Animal
10 L'Etoile D'Or
11 Eat, Drink, Dance, Relax Too
12 Undercurrents (Liquid Mix)
Available in cd wallet with booklet using original sleeve artwork.
price incs vat & postage / packaging.