Chorus - Erasure

Advantages: Autumnal electropop for rainy afternoons
Disadvantages: Only lasts for one pot of tea!

...than Gary Barlow these days, Chorus is as relavent as ever. Its 1991 release coincided with a great time in my life and therefore became a soundtrack to that; living in halls of residence at university and then moving to Holland for a year. It was six years into Vince Clarke and Andy Bell’s Erasure, a long time for Vince, who had a history of setting up and then leaving bands at the height of their success (ie Depeche Mode, Yazoo, The Assembly) ...
...this to practice! Why Chorus stood the test of time compared to icontemporaries is it still sounds so fresh. Martyn Philips’ low-fi techno production is sparse and economical, with thudding electobeats and strings used to effect rather than engulf. The subject matter is classic Erasure, love turning to anger and frustration and back again, Amsterdam streets, sirens singing and romantic quasi-religious imagery. People seem to reject Erasure as ... Read review

Advantages: Andy Bell's vocals, beautiful synth pop
Disadvantages: Possibly Erasure's lull

...Well, I have to start by saying that I have always been a BIG Erasure fan. I don't agree with those that say that you must be gay to enjoy their music. In my opinion, their sexual preferences should have no influence over the decision to like their easy listening pop treats. I must admit to believing that this may not be their best effort, but it still contains some very noteworthy songs. It doesn't delve into the realms of trance experimentalism that ventured on the previous album "Erasure". So, let's get reviewing... ----Rain---- The opener is a classic slice of Erasure pop, with a bopping bass track and various levels of synth surrounding Andy's glorious vocals. Classic chorus, but still not really at the standard we come to expect. ----Worlds on fire---- Aaaah! Here we go. This is more like it. A slower track... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: One or Two good tracks
Disadvantages: Tracks too Slow, nothing spectacular

...of similar tracks to their music on their Chorus album. 3. Sucker For Love – running time 3.58 minutes Starts of quite catchy and you think it’s going to be a hit but half way through sounds a bit corny, If I was to compare it to one of their other tracks it would defiantly be ‘Gloria’ from their Wild Album. 4. Storm In A Teacup – running time 4.04 minutes More of a serious track for Erasure, starts off quite ‘Sorrowful’ as the song is about a mum and a dad and a little white lie but then develops into a more of a jig of a song, this has to be my second favourite on the album and I think this would do quite well in the charts if it was to be released. 5. Fly Away – running time 3.21 minutes Not a bad track, even though it’s a short song it does go on a bit and the music is a little annoying and seems to drown Andy singing to me... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It's brave and a good introduction to Erasure
Disadvantages: It's pointless if you already know the band

.... It is turned into a country ballad (there is criminal over-use of the slide guitar again on this track - have Vince and Andy been living in Texas?) with a sub-New Seekers riff, that detracts rather than enhances the sound. There is a selection here from albums 'Cowboy', 'Wild!', 'Erasure', 'The Circus', 'Chorus', 'Loveboat' (which had some good acoustic tracks in their original form ) and 'I Say, I Say, I Say'. But long-term fans will remember some earlier Erasure tracks re-recorded with an orchestra on 'The Two Ring Circus' to fantastic effect, with master arrange Andrew Poppy and compare this with that. The one song which really benefits from the the new form is 'How Many Times?' - they have often played this acoustically live and on TV shows and know it works. It would easily reach top ten status if it was released. Andy Bell... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful