ERASURE - LOVEBOAT

Until "Loveboat" came out, the last Erasure album I liked all the way through was "Chorus".  Because "Loveboat" wasn't released in the US until 3 years after it's release in the UK and Europe, my copy is an import from the UK.  I actually downloaded a pirated copy of the disc and listened to it before I bought it.  I couldn't believe it didn't have a US release!  I thought it was phenomenal!

In my opinion, "Loveboat" is one of their strongest albums.  There's not a single track on this disc I don't absolutely enjoy.  From the opening strums of guitar on 'Freedom' to the fade out on 'Surreal', I was completely hooked.  Each of the tracks is catchy, sensible and all around fun to sing and dance to.  It's rare for a pop band to release a disc loaded with one great tune after another.  For me, Erasure achieved that with this disc.

There are songs I like more than others, but when I play this disc, I put it in and let it go.  I have all the tracks memorized and I sing along without hesitation.  I find it engaging.  Even some of the slower tunes are above average.  'Where In The World' is a slower number, but it has some interesting vocals that make it fun to sing.  There's a difference in the drum sounds used on this record too.  It seems like Erasure got an upgrade in their sound banks.  The first track this is evident on is 'Crying In The Rain'.  When the song starts, you hear a drum I can only describe as matte finish drums.  It doesn't have much of an echo but it does sound funky.

On the next track, 'Perchance To Dream' we get more of the new drum sounds and an interesting vocal arrangement by Andy Bell as he sings part of the song in his falsetto.  'Alien' is a track that relies on Vince Clarke's trademark sound effects to build the song.  Fans of the band all enjoy Clarke's ability to fill the spaces between the chords with his electric whirs and pops.  It's part of the appeal.

My favorite track on the album is probably 'Here In My Heart'.  It reminds me of so many other Erasure tracks I've loved over the years.  One song in particular it reminds me of is 'In Your Arms' from "Cowboy".  My second favorite track is 'Catch 22' and it also fits into that perfect Erasure song category for me.  'Moon & The Sky' is a powerhouse tune.  You get some drums that sounds similar to the Linn Drum Machine clap sounds.  The bass lines are deep and the groove is funky!  This is an excellent jam in my opinion and I love the R&B soul feel to it.  It's very Prince-like.  

The final track on the album is 'Surreal' and for me, this song would feel right at home on "Chorus".  I adore it.

According to my online research, Madonna's Maverick label shelved the album for lack of a hit single.  I find that absolutely ridiculous.  I hear hit singles all over this record.  It did eventually get a US release.  Along with the cover album, "Other People's Songs" in 2003.  In my opinion, that was a huge mistake.  A band like Erasure has a hardcore following.  There are Erasure fans who will purchase anything the group puts out.  That being the case, Maverick could've been assured of at least a certain number of units sold.  I'm not sure what that figure would be but I'm sure it's more than most groups on that label could pull off at the time.

I think this is an album that Erasure expanded their sound, songwriting and musical styles successfully on.  It could be considered at experimental as "Erasure", but in this case, the result was much more positive.  I think they did exactly what they set out to do.  My second favorite Erasure album for sure...  My final words:  AN OVERLOOKED GEM IN THE ERASURE BACK CATALOG.

ERASURE - LOVEBOAT
01. Freedom
02. Where In The World
03. Crying In The Rain
04. Perchance To Dream
05. Alien
06. Mad As We Are
07. Here In My Heart
08. Love Is The Rage
09. Catch 22
10. Moon & The Sky
11. Surreal

ERASURE - "ERASURE"

This is the self-titled 1995 album by 80's band, Erasure.  For those of you who aren't in the know, Erasure are a duo consisting of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke (of Yazoo and Depeche Mode fame).  They enjoyed a great deal of success with their previous albums but this one was a bit of a dark horse.  

Up to this point, Erasure were most notable for great pop music.  They were the undisputed masters of the 3 minute hit single.  With amazing hooks and catchy lyrics easy to sing along with, they were an established band with a loyal following.  

But something changed with this record.

After this album came out, Vince Clarke started doing side projects like The Clarke/Ware Experiment where he developed soundscapes rather than pop songs and we see the origin of that happening here.  Some of the songs on this album have long synth solos and complicated motifs playing under the main vocals.  To call the record challenging would be a fair assessment.  If I'm not mistaken, this album started a slide in album sales for the band.  This is the first record in a long time that failed to make #1 in the UK.

The disc is obviously experimental and was the band's attempt to break out of the musical confines they found themselves in.  This can either be a good or a bad thing depending on the result.  I love groups who challenge themselves, but like most critics and fans, when it doesn't work out, I can't hide my disappointment.  "Erasure" is a little harder to judge.  It doesn't exactly succeed and it doesn't fail.  I'm not sure it broadened the palate of Erasure fans, but at the same time, it did in many ways expand what they would expect in the future from the band.

One thing is certain, Clarke and Bell are an amazing song writing team and they compose music that is simply joyful.  This album is no exception.  The infectious hooks and sing along melodies are all present.  It's the longer song times that initially hold you back from getting too caught up.  But in even this regard, Clarke seemed prepared.  They would extend the songs with trance-like beats and qualities that make the tracks seem almost religiously zen.  Take 'Sono Luminous' for example...  After the main body of the song ends around 5 minutes you still have a three minute slow fade out that ends with Bell singing acapella in a gospel style.

The very next track, 'Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)' delivers another long fade out.  This one lasts around two minutes and appears in the middle of the song.  'Rock Me Gently' is the most egregious example of these soundscape solos.  Clocking in around 10 minutes, over half this song is a synth trance solo. 

These songs are all mid-tempo with nothing really breaking the dance barrier.  Another reason fans might not like the disc.  

The first time I heard this album, I wasn't sure what to make of it.  I sorta thought it would grow on me the way the Pet Shop Boys album "Bilingual" did, but unfortunately, it hasn't.  I still like the music.  I'm especially partial to the singles from this album.  The edited versions of songs are more enjoyable and some of the b-sides during this time are outstanding.  I love them!

But the truth is, this might be the last Erasure disc I'll pull from my shelf to listen to.  I almost always listen to it only when I'm on an Erasure kick and I work my way through their records.  Still, it's so much better than a lot of the stuff coming out during that period of time.

My final words:  AN EXPERIMENTAL CHOICE FROM A POPULAR GROUP!

ERASURE - "ERASURE"
01. Intro: Guess I'm Into Feeling
02. Rescue Me
03. Sono Luminous
04. Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)
05. Rock Me Gently
06. Grace
07. Stay With Me
08. Love The Way You Do So
09. Angel
10. I Love You
11. A Long Goodbye

ERASURE - COWBOY

I'm gonna try something different this time...  I've made a habit of trying to break the albums down into individual songs, but I think that gets tiring after awhile.  There are so many mediocre songs I have to try to find ways to describe.  So from now on I'm going to limit my comments to things that stand out and attract my attention.

This is the perfect album to start with.  "Cowboy" was released in 1997 on Madonna's Maverick label.  I'm not sure if this was Erasure's first release on that label, but I think it was the only one.  I might be wrong.

On the heels of the self-titled "Erasure" album, "Cowboy" saw Vince Clarke and Andy Bell returning to their traditional pop roots with catchy 3 to 4 minute songs instead of the experimental soundscapes they'd produced on "Erasure".  The more radio friendly atmosphere of "Cowboy" allowed the band some chart success in the UK and Europe.  Some of the band's singles were having impact in the US as well.

I first heard about this record not by following the charts or seeing it in the record store...  I heard the single, 'In My Arms' during the ad loop playing in a movie theater.  In the US, prior to the trailers, some theaters back in the 90's started experimenting with a looped audio track playing ads, trivia and short entertainment pieces in order to keep movie-goers from growing impatient as they waited for the film to start.  One of these clips was 'In My Arms' from Erasure.  The first time I heard it, I loved it and immediately went out and bought the album.

My impression was relief they'd moved away from the long songs of the previous album.  Now years later this disc has become what I consider the standard for Erasure releases.  I quite like Vince Clarke.  I think as a musician, he's amazingly talented and vastly unappreciated.  Because his focus is on electronic music and he works heavily with electronic instruments, he's written off by most folks.  He's not considered a genuine musician.  In reality, he's not only gifted, but able to write dramatically different and unique music pieces. 

Where Vince truly shines is sound engineering.  He creates so many different sounds unique to Erasure songs.  It's impossible for other groups to copy them.

On "Cowboy" Vince is in full form.  He generates catchy simple pop melodies, one after the other.  As usual, Andy Bell contributes the lyrics and vocals.  Their partnership seems to work well and their enjoyment in each other is forever present in their music.

Now back to what I consider a standard Erasure release...  "Cowboy" fits that description.  I can honestly say I like the entire album.  There's not a single song on here I think is horrible, but I'm not in love with it.  There are certain songs that stand out for me and if I'm creating a playlist there are tunes I'll take from this album.

'Worlds On Fire' is one of these, however my absolute favorite song on the disc is easily 'In My Arms'.  Perfect choice for a single and in my opinion, the perfect song on the album.  I love the sentiment.  I find it romantic and sweet.  'Treasure' is another song I quite enjoy.  I find it a bit of a musical mishmash, and the lyrics are a jumbled mess.  But all of that seems to come together during the chorus when Andy get down and really belts it out.

As a prelude of sorts to the cover album they did later on, the US version of "Cowboy" contains two covers.  One is 'Rapture' by Blondie, but my copy doesn't have this track.  I do have the second cover, 'Magic Moments' by Burt Bacharach and David Hall.  I've heard both and I love them both.  It's a shame my copy only has the one.  I wonder why.  Might have to upgrade it.

I'm an Erasure fan, but I'm not die hard.  I don't buy everything they put out.  Sometimes I mean to.  I think about it and I'll pick up a strange or rare bit here and there, but I've never committed to collecting them.  Maybe one day I will.  In the meantime, I'll enjoy individual discs as they come.  My final words: A RETURN TO FORM AND A SATISFYING ADDITION TO ERASURE'S GROWING CATALOG.  WORTH OWNING!

ERASURE - COWBOY

01. Rain

02. Worlds On Fire

03. Reach Out

04. In My Arms

05. Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me

06. Precious

07. Treasure

08. Boy

09. How Can I Say

10. Save Me Darling

11. Love Affair

12. Magic Moments

ERASURE - I COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU

Erasure...  What can you say?  They built themselves a loyal following during the 80's and 90's that's never waned.  Of course my interest lies mainly with Vince Clarke rather than musical partner Andy Bell...  But I admit, I enjoy Bell as a vocalist.  He's soulful and projects well.  He's also full of personality.  As a songwriter, I'm often baffled by his lyrics.  They're often nonsense...  Random words strung together.  But whether or not you get into the lyrics with Erasure is kinda beside the point.  What is lyrics do is paint a visual scene.  Probably more than any other artist, you can fit Erasure songs into your life easily because you latch on to one line and that sums up a moment in time for you.  The song then magically becomes that entire situation summed up in one glorious tune.  And you will always see it through that lens.  Erasure is a highly personal group for many people because of this.

'I Could Fall In Love With You' is the first single from the "Light At The End Of The World" album.  It's one of Erasure's dynamic pop efforts that could easily transition to a ballad under the right circumstances.  The music is light-hearted and fun.  The beat is energetic and Bell really invests himself into the vocal performance.  

The first two tracks are edits of a mix by Jeremy Wheatley.  They pretty basic mixes and stay relatively faithful to the original version.  They're more like arrangements of the existing tracks rather than an actual remix.  I'm happy with them.  

The next three tracks are edits of a mix by Lee Monteverde.  This mix has a heavier rhythm section and barrels along at a great pace.  Of the two mixes, it's the superior.  The 'Dub 2' is my favorite of the mixes.

The last track is 'I Like It'.  This is a non-album b-side.  It's not one of their strongest, but it's still pretty good.  The tempo is slower than usual for Erasure, but it gives Bell a chance to explore a more complex vocal arrangement.  I would normally write this track off, but if you listen to the whole thing, there are so many little interesting moments, you have to like it.  It forces you to dig it.

Erasure don't disappoint on this one.  You get great value for your money.  5 mixes, a b-side and the album version of 'I Could Fall In Love With You'...  My final words:  IT'S A WINNER, FOLKS!!!

ERAURE - I COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU
01. I Could Fall In Love With You (Jeremy Wheatley Radio Mix)
02. I Could Fall In Love With You (Jeremy Wheatley Extended 12" Mix)
03. I Could Fall In Love With You (Monteverde Radio Edit)
04. I Could Fall In Love With You (Monteverde Vocal Extended Mix)
05. I Could Fall In Love With You (Monteverde Dub 2)
06. I Could Fall In Love With You (Album Version)
07. I Like It (B-Side)

ERASURE - OTHER PEOPLE'S SONGS

Ok, this one is complicated.  I'm not a huge fan of covers and Erasure made an entire album FULL of them.  I might've skipped the disc entirely, but I was invited to this tour and it was the first time I was seeing them in concert.  So, I picked up the CD in preparation for the show.

Musically, the sound is typical Vince Clarke circa that time period.  He makes the songs much more exciting than the original versions.  But he's not a miracle worker and even though Vince and Andy may like these songs, I'm not partial to most of them.  Not even Erasure versions make them worth hearing.  At least in my opinion.

'Solsbury Hill' is a Peter Gabriel cover and this is probably my favorite track on the whole disc.  I like his version and I like theirs.  It's followed by 'Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime'.  The original version is by a group called The Korgis.  I'm not familiar with this group.  I don't know anything about them, but I have heard other versions of this song.  Erasure's is subdued and rather quiet.  I'm not sure it brings anything to the album.  I don't hate it, but I'm not rushing to play it either.  'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)' actually sounds like something Erasure would write themselves and Andy's vocals make the track his.  It's not a bad tune.  In fact, it's quite enjoyable.

Buddy Holly is represented twice on this disc and 'Everyday' is the first of these two tracks.  Although Erasure have covered some classic rock tunes in the past; and done so quite successfully, this one seems a bit lackluster and never moves beyond a light shake and maybe a toe tap or two.  Next up is a cover of The Three Degrees big hit, 'When Will I See You Again'.  The music is upbeat and Andy delivers a credible version of this classic.  It's followed by The Ronettes 'Walking In The Rain'.  This is the third Phil Spector composition they've covered.  I've always thought it was a rather strange song and the version here does nothing to change my mind.

'True Love Ways' is the second Buddy Holly track and it has a simple rocking swing that's delicate and sweet.  The arrangement is quiet and showcases Andy's vocals.  He's right on target here, folks.  Those crooning ballads of the 50's sound wonderful under Andy's careful renditions.  Despite originally thinking this was a waste of time, I actually love this number and I've pulled the disc out a few times just to hear it.  Probably because I enjoy hearing Andy sing it.  The Righteous Brothers get a nod with 'Ebb Tide'.  I've never liked their sound, but this track sounds like it would fit on "Loveboat" and the deeper drum track saves it from slipping into complete obscurity.

What classic covers album would be complete without an Elvis Presley tune?  'I Can't Help Falling In Love' is a Presley staple.  Vince and Andy offer a passable version.  But it's nothing to get excited about.  'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'' has the distinction of being a doubleheader.  It's the second Phil Spector track and the second Righteous Brothers cover.  It's a boring song and it goes nowhere here.

If I had some input on this disc, I might've switched the last two tracks and put 'Goodnight' at the end.  It is, after all, a parting of sorts.  I've never heard it before and I don't even know the artist it's taken from.  It's similar to other tracks Erasure have done in the past and it has the distinct feel of a "Chorus" outtake.  It wouldn't surprise me if it was recorded during those sessions.  The final number is a Buggles cover.  'Video Killed The Radio Star' was a huge MTV hit and it's a great 80's song.  Erasure pay homage in grand form.  They're a product of the 80's and I think Clarke's musical quirks, beeps, blips and burps are perfect for this delightful number.  It's performed in a more reserved manner than the original; but it's bubbly fun from start to finish.

This really is a complex album to review because I can't rant and rave about it as much as I'd love to.  I have great respect for both Andy Bell and Vince Clarke.  As a musician, I think Vince Clarke is a singular vision.  He understands the binary code of modern music more than any other artist out there.  He's completely ahead of his time.  And Andy has the soulful voice of a Diva!  But the quality of the music they've selected to cover isn't nearly as interesting or accomplished as they are.  

I feel a little disappointed.  I CAN say the show was absolutely amazing and I'm so grateful I got the chance to go.  It was a magical evening and it happened during a time in my life when I was very happy.

My final words today are:  A SKIP-ABLE DISC FROM A LEGENDARY DUO.  :-(

ERASURE - OTHER PEOPLE'S SONGS
01. Solsbury Hill
02. Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime
03. Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)
04. Everyday
05. When Will I See You Again
06. Walking In The Rain
07. True Love Ways
08. Ebb Tide
09. Can't Help Falling In Love
10. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
11. Goodnight
12. Video Killed The Radio Star 

FAMILY FANTASTIC - ...NICE!

Did you ever wonder what would've happened to disco if it hadn't become so unpopular back in the 70's? Lots of 80's electronic bands continued the legacy left behind by disco artists. In fact, disco could be said to be the forerunner to 80's pop. No matter how you look at it, successive genres of music have flirted and titillated audiences with snatches of disco style. But nothing like what the Family Fantastic has done. This is a band that embraces the legend of disco and updates it to a current standard. From reading I've done online, I know members of this band have backgrounds with a variety of groups, but I don't really know any of them outside of Vince Clarke. That's right, folks! Vince Clarke from Depeche Mode, Yaz and Erasure fame. You could call this another side project for him. He seems to have a never ending supply of beats and little ditties locked away in his head waiting for a chance to jump out and find a home. This project is no exception.

So now you know my attraction to the band. Why I bought the cd and paid full price. And you're asking yourself... Does he like it? Surprisingly... I do! Under the guidance of Clarke, (and don't fool yourself, you hear him all over these tracks), Family Fantastic employs some talented singers who take rather embarrassing lyrics and punch them up to power soul levels with disco beats swirling like laser lights all around them. You could seriously skate to this stuff.

'Get Up' starts the album off with a call to dance. Family Fantastic urges you to move out on the floor! 'Get Up' also gets a rather lackluster remix treatment as one of 3 bonus tracks at the end of the disc. 'Get Up' is fun, but hardly as infectious as 'Treat Yourself' the next track and one of the two best songs on the album. 'Treat Yourself' even features bells ringing in the background making me wanna stand up and shout, "You can ring my bell!" 'Funky Feet' and 'Spread Your Love' are both highly energetic numbers. They're both fun, but not as memorable or infectious as 'Treat Yourself'. 'Hey Nu Nu' is a song on the more cringe worthy side of things. The lyrics are quite boring and somewhat embarrassing. The fact this song gets a remix treatment at the end of the disc makes me question the taste of certain band members.

'Halfway To Heaven' is another dance number with a heavy rhythm movement and an almost Stock, Aitken & Waterman formula in the music and progression. Check out those generic background vocals and the punctuated "Whoa's" on the chorus. The generic material continues with 'One Love One Life' a mid-tempo ballad also in the hit making tradition of S.A.W. productions. The surprising track is 'Better Days'. Not because it's good, but because former Prince associate Taja Sevelle gets a writing credit here. It certainly has her sound and writing style. I'm surprised she's involved with this project. This is the other song that gets a different version at the end. The last track of the album is an acoustic version of this song. It's followed by the other truly ecstatic number, 'Soy La Reina'. This song sounds more like something Erasure would be doing. In fact, the vocalist singing wordless scales in the background sounds strikingly like Andy Bell. Like the name suggests, the song has a decidedly Latin feel to it. It's very exciting and I often see it on the internet as an unreleased Erasure outtake. But don't be misled... It has a home right here on this album. The final track is performed in the tradition of old school rap via Curtis Blow and The Sugarhill Gang. It's fun and interesting but sometimes a bit embarrassing. Hehehe.

In the end, there's more to love than to hate about this record. The music is fun even though it sometimes seems generic. As for the 3 bonus tracks, I wouldn't worry too much about getting them. In each instance, the mix doesn't do the original track justice. Ultimately, this record is all about the music. Not the lyrics or the vocalists. It's about the joyful music produced and written by a musical genius. Sit back, veg out and let nostalgia wash over you like waves on a beach. My final words: TREAT YOURSELF TO FANTASTIC FUN.

FAMILY FANTASTIC - ...NICE!
01. Get Up
02. Treat Yourself
03. Funky Feet
04. Spread Your Love
05. Hey Nu Nu
06. Halfway To Heaven
07. One Love One Life
08. Better Days
09. Soy La Reina
10. Doin' This Thing
11. Hey Nu Nu (Trance)
12. Get Up (Bleep)
13. Better Days (Acoustic)