Erasure: Union Street

Elly Roberts reviews

Erasure: Union Street
Distributed by
Mute Records

    Cover

  • Cat.no: CDSTUMM235
  • Released: April 2006
  • Rating: 10/10

Erasure has always been full of surprises – this is no exception.

Twenty years into a brilliant pop career and 14 million sales behind them, Erasurerevisit songs from their glittering back-catalogue. Recorded at intimateUnion Street studio in Brooklyn New York, Vince Clark and Andy Bell decidedit was time to, “Show the songs in a different light, and show that theycould work on whatever instrument, synthesisers or guitars”. Clark said, “Wefound this cool guitarist (Steve Walsh) with a cool studio and decided touse both”.

Like many a supposed acoustic album, in theory this isn’t either,but the use of more traditional instruments like banjo, flute and pedalsteel, they give this album an almost country and western feel, alongsideradical arrangements.


Including one top 20 single Stay With Me, theremainder are album tracks; it matters not, because they’ve certainly donetheir homework on making this superb collection sound as though they shouldhave done it before. Their trademark infectious synth-pop has been abandonedfor deeper artistic values, though Andy Bell’s falsetto singing is still ahighlight – however, he does drop it down on a few occasions, with greateffect. It’s a bold, even experimental step which is without doubt aresounding success.

The makeover brings new meaning to ‘lost’ gems thatprove there’s more to Erasure than exotic stage shows and dance orientatedpop anthems. A graceful album in every way.

Best tracks – Tenderest Moments and tear jerking closer Rock Me Gently.

Weblink:Erasure Info.com


The full list of tracks included are :

1. Boy
2. Piano Song
3. Stay With Me
4. Spiralling
5. Home
6. Tenderest Moments
7. Alien
8. Blues Away
9. How Many Times
10. Love Affair
11. Rock Me Gently

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