Here’s the thing about covering a song that’s already a certified banger: you either play it safe and bore everyone, or you grab it by the collar and throw it into a pit. Franklin Gotham chose the latter. Their take on The Human League’s 1983 synth-pop classic “Fascination” doesn’t just pay respects—it rewires the damn thing with a live-wire jolt that makes the original feel like a polite radio hit. This is the final piece of a three-single summer run, and they saved the loudest for last.
First, let’s talk about where these guys come from. Franklin Gotham is a Virginia-based outfit that’s been around since 2013, dropping nine EPs over a decade. They’ve got a catalogue that stretches from Something You Remember in 2015 to last year’s Good Times Bad Times. They know how to write hooks, but they also know how to twist a familiar melody until it snaps in a new direction. After a two-year silence, they came back swinging this summer with three tracks that flip between island-pop, Brit-guitar shimmer, and now this synth-wave explosion. That’s a band that refuses to stay in one lane.
What makes this version land is the attitude. The Human League’s original was sleek, cool, and reserved. Franklin Gotham turns it into a high-energy shout, the kind of track that makes you want to drive with the windows down and the volume up. They honour the melody and the iconic chorus, but they push the dynamics harder—bigger builds, sharper drops, and a production that sounds like it was recorded in a room full of people, not in a sterile booth.
This single also caps off an ambitious summer trilogy. The band shifted their sound from roots-pop to shimmering Brit-rock to this synth-wave blast across three months, showing they’re not afraid to experiment. That kind of creative risk-taking is rare in a genre where most acts stick to a formula.
If you’re tired of covers that just copy and paste, this one’s for you. It’s a celebration of an 80s gem, but it’s also a statement that old songs can still feel new when you’ve got the right fire. “Fascination” is out now, and it’s the perfect summer closer—loud, bright, and unapologetically alive. Give it a spin and let the synths hit you where it counts.