Nightbird - Erasure

I was brought up on Erasure, being an 80's child and having a young mum, she clubbed to them (and now I do - eurgh, weird.) Anyways, I was brought up knowing classics like 'Oh L'Amour', 'A Little Respect' and 'Love To Hate You' plus their ABBA covers. However, I never would have classified myself as a major fan. The last song I liked was there cover of 'Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me)' but I didn't buy it. In the last few years they did a covers ...
...new material in a while. I probably wouldn't have got this is if a) it hadnt been recommended so highly and b) the fact I kept hearing 'Breathe' everywhere and thinking it was so damn good.

Erasure will have there 35th single out next month. For a duo have been around for 20 years next October they have stood the test of time and still sound fresh and new. After last album, 'Other Peoples Songs' strangely an album of covers in 2003 ... more

I was brought up on Erasure, being an 80's child and having a young mum, she clubbed to them (and now I do - eurgh, weird.) Anyways, I was brought up knowing classics like 'Oh L'Amour', 'A Little Respect' and 'Love To Hate You' plus their ABBA covers. However, I never would have classified myself as a major fan. The last song I liked was there cover of 'Make Me Smile (Come Up & See Me)' but I didn't buy it. In the last few years they did a covers album and another greatest hits, so 'Nightbird' is there first new material in a while. I probably wouldn't have got this is if a) it hadnt been recommended so highly and b) the fact I kept hearing 'Breathe' everywhere and thinking it was so damn good.

Erasure will have there 35th single out next month. For a duo have been around for 20 years next October they have stood the test of time and still sound fresh and new. After last album, 'Other Peoples Songs' strangely an album of covers in 2003 and their Greatest Hits two years ago, they release their 9th studio album (not including Pop and Hits - both collections). Andy Bell and Vince Clarke are back, and her is the brilliant album reviewed in full…

No Doubt

The opening track to Erasure's long awaited album starts with an reggae beat and electro beeps. Then in kicks Andy's vocals. They sound like you'd expect in a church chior if you know what I mean. The reggae soon disappears to haunting atmospheric bleak beats and Andy's airy vocals. This song is a very reflective look on a relationship "I look on all the changes we've been through". It's a beautiful mid tempo opener to the album. 4/5

Here I Go Impossible Again

Starting with electro beams and synths with an almost 'Can't Get You Out Of My Head' back beat that's quite catchy. Its not as upbeat as a lot of the songs on the album. "Here I go impossible again, should I hold you close to keep the night from ending". It's a paranoid hurt look at love "win some and lose some" and "how can I know what you feel?". Plus the danger the "three little words, I love you" can have. Lyrically this is awesome and more than makes up for the lack of dance appeal we expect from Erasure. 5/5

Let's Take One More Rocket To The Moon

Darker electro beats start this song. It mellows as soon as Andy starts to sing. This again has a choir feel in vocals. I love the lyrics in this love song "and while your sleep is all around, just look up in the air". The chorus is so beautiful "its dawning, I'm gently falling, the rhythum of water and windows of light, darling, soft as your pillow, I'm slowly drowning, going spiralling down… cos you catch your breath." Its brilliant. They need to release this, love at its starkest. 6/5

Breathe

This has to be one of my favourite songs EVER! When I first heard this I was like "it sounds like that guy from Erasure, but it cant be" I thought that they had died a bit of a death. I can listen to this song over and over and over! It starts with talky bits that most artists seem to like to use, Andy sounds unuaually deep as he says "noise, and move" over and over again! "Breathe, and I breathe, its bitter without you, I can't live without you, and I'm in love with you". It's a really haunting hairs standing up song and is possibly the best song Erasure have released in years. Their first to 5 hit in 11 years… simply brilliant! 6/5

I'll Be There

Very hi-energy this song. Yet again its about love and being there - strangly enough! This is a clubby song that you can imagine being very drunk dancing away to. There's not too much can say about this song. Its just very very very upbeat and dancey. 4/5

Because Our Love Is Real

Very very simplistic this song. A lot rawer than some of the tracks. Its almost like your in the studio. This is a slower ballad than the songs we have had so far. "You wrap me up in love, a colour so sublime. Goes to where I hurt the most, and takes it all way." You get the feeling Erasure are extremely loved up at the moment (not with each other - lol). Very simple very floaty and very nice. 5/5

Don't Say You Love Me

Vocoders start this song with the chorus sounding submerged in water! "Don't say you love me, strange things will make me die, don't say you love me, strange things will make me cry." The beat slowly kicks off as the words become more clear. Then full on pop song. It is basically about the gay sex scene. They don't wanna hear the word love cos they'll "screw you round my angel" it's a very complex song. Its not that electro its not hi-energy, it's a simple brilliant pop number. There is again the whole vocals of a church. You wonder if they recorded thealbum in a church to get the acoustics on Andy's vocals. 5/5

All This Time Still Falling Out Of Love
Starting as most of the album this song goes from mellow but changes suddenly to very camp hi-energy. Its possibly the most dated song on the album and doesn't quite fit in. This is a very acidic dance track. Its almost over produced but never once borders on being rubbish which is impressive. A song about breaking up "it hurts me but I have nowhere left to run". 4/5

I Broke It All In Two

This is the most reminiscent song of Erasure of the 80's. You feel like you have heard it before, in a familiar way not a 'god not again' way. It reminds me of my childhood (my mum loved - still loves - Erasure). All about ruining a relationship and knowing it was your own fault its quite a sad song but because the beats are uplifting is not at all depressing! You can hear the guilt in the song "my hearts not made of stone" for messing things up. 5/5

Sweet Surrender

Europop. This could have been a Eurovision song a few years ago. Its not crap its just high on cheese lol! Reminiscent of old Erasure and very very synthed up to the nines, its cheesy but very catchy. Andy's vocals like on the other tracks are full of the emotion of the song. You know this album is all from the heart and that's more than a lot of artists in todays pop market can manage. 4/5

I Bet Your Mad At Me

Cleverly the album ends in the tone it started. This song is very like 'No Doubt' in mood and sound. I love the lyric "you're crazy, that's who you are" I think that's brilliant. It's a mid tempo song about someone being mad at you hahaha! The clever thing is you don't know why so you are left to make your own story behind the song which is very very clever! I like this as a song and it's a really fitting closure on the album!

OVERALL

This is an album everyone should have in their record collection. It's a very clever album lyrically, you can tell erasure have both been through a severe amunt of love and pain in equal measure and its an insight into the emotions we all go through. The mood of the album is very retrospective throughout without being miserable. There's light and dark, love and hurt, slow and fast. Its brilliant I can't rate it enough. 11/10
 

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