Basically, this is Spagna's first Italian language album. This is full of fantastic songs, which includes a version of Elton John's "The Circle of Life" which Spagna sang on the Italian version of Disney's "The Lion King". There is a good mix of pop and ballads, the best being "Come Il Cielo", "Chiamami" and "Mai". A great introduction to Spagna's "Italian" albums.

Although the basic idea behind this album is to collect all the "hit" songs (mostly European) from the first three albums ("Dedicated To The Moon", "You Are My Energy" and "No Way Out"), the concept is to separate the 80's Spagna (colourful outfits, spiky blonde hair, fun pop songs) from the more "sophisticated" 90's version (hence the title - Spagna & Spagna). The outstanding songs are "Call Me", "Dance, Dance, Dance" and of the new Spagna - "No More Words" (an excellent big James Bond style song). The cover picture is a bizarre morph of the "two" Spagnas (old and new).
Not a bad collection at all (however the later "E Che Mai Sarà" is an overall more satisfying listen).

"Dedicated To The Moon" is Spagna's debut album and was released in 1987. This contains her first and biggest hit in the UK - "Call Me" which reached no.2. There are many highlights such as "So Easy", "The Power of Money", "Baby Blue" and the sultry "Why Can't I Say (I Love You Babe)". The album was co-written and produced by Spagna. Although the production sounds dated now, it is a great introduction to a very colourful and gorgeous Italian singer with a soulful voice.

This song gallops at a breath-taking pace and is yet another slab of chunky modern pop from the Icelandic singer. Released last year from her debut album "I Am", this release comes complete with a club mix of the song which simply begs to be cranked up and played loud.

I Am is a wonderful example of the perfect three and a half minute pop song. Sung by the remarkably warm voiced Selma Björnsdottír from Iceland. Mostly remembered for her second place in the 1999 Eurovision Song Contest when she sang "All Out Of Luck", "I Am" is also written by Selma with Sveinbjörn Baldvinsson and Thorvaldur Thorvaldsson. From her wonderful debut album "I Am" which was released in 1999.

Octopus is indeed Human League's eighth album, following on from the much forgotten 1990 album Romantic? (no. 24 22.9.90). Crash was the last properly recognised album released in 1986 (no.7 20.9.86), produced as it was by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, at the height of Janet Jackson's Control debut. Crash however was sadly lacking in either spark or innovation, despite having two sublime tracks in Human and Love Is All That Matters.

Octopus however was a brand new start for the group marking both a new label and a new sleek and sophisticated image. First off the block was the sparkling bright pop of Tell Me When (which afforded them a welcome back to the Top Ten (no.6)) followed by the charming One Man In My Heart (no. 13) (mainly sung for a change by Susan and Joanne), both of which helped push the album to a no.6 position in the album charts.

Third single, Filling Up With Heaven failed to match the previous two singles, only reaching no.36 in the singles chart, despite being one of the albums better songs. The penultimate track, Never Again would have made a good choice for a single as it one of Octopus's little jems (track 8). A beautiful song, which could rank alongside Human, as one of the League's best love songs.

The remaining tracks, however, seemed to fail to push the album any further forward, despite the fact that they were full of trade mark harmonies, synthesisers, club bass lines and shuffling percussion/backing.

Whatever Octopus's slight deficiencies are, the album, although no masterpiece by any standard, is a must have if you are a fan of the new Human League. The overall feeling of the album being that it is a positive step in the right direction, one which will hopefully continue for some time to come.

Finally, you have to hand it to the group for dusting themselves down (every 5 years or so!) to come back out to play with the current pop tarts and trendy boy/girl bands. A truly class act.