"Octopus" is the seventh studio album by the British synth-pop band The Human League. It was released in January 1995, marking their return to the music scene after a long break.
The album is notable for being The Human League’s first studio album in over five years, following "Romantic?" which came out in 1990. The band decided to take the hiatus after several commercially unsuccessful albums to reevaluate their creative process.
"Octopus" represented a significant artistic and commercial comeback for the band. Co-produced by synth programming expert Ian Stanley, the album showcased a more modern, updated sound, while still retaining the band's signature electro-pop aesthetics.
The album spawned two hit singles, "Tell Me When" and "One Man in My Heart," both of which achieved considerable success in the UK Singles Chart reaching numbers six and thirteen respectively. The first of these, "Tell Me When," became one of the band’s biggest hits, cracking the top 10 in the UK. "One Man in My Heart," was a change of pace for the band, with the song featuring lead vocals from Susan Ann Sulley instead of the band's usual lead vocalist, Philip Oakey.
"Octopus" was well-received by critics, who praised its updated sound and catchy hooks. The album reached number six in the UK Albums Chart and was also successful internationally. The album is considered by many to be a strong return to form and helped reestablish The Human League as one of the leading electronic pop bands of the 1990s.
