Erasure perfected their synth-pop/dance sound in the mid-'80s, and over the course of the next decade and a half they continued within that structure.
By 1997's Cowboy, the band lost some of their melodic sense in exchange for the techno dance trip.
It is nice to say that on this release Erasure went back to doing what they do best: strong melodic pop music full of angst and pain.
There's no real experimentation, just the old form of songwriting.
This will not win new fans, but it might win back those few who were turned off by the group's dive into techno.
Since 1997, Vince Clarke has collaborated on two experimental projects: 1999's Clarke & Ware Experiment with Martin Ware of Heaven 17 fame and the Family Fantastic album.
Neither were too successful, but they did provide platforms for Clarke to expand his writing and playing beyond the pop song format.
His return is very much welcomed.
Andy Bell's voice has never sounded better, and as usual it fits the music perfectly.
A strong album, with some of the best songs they have ever produced (including the wonderful "Freedom" and "Surreal"), this is a classic sounding Erasure album, and it could not be better.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FreedomAndy Bell, Vince Clarke | Erasure | Play | 03:09 | 7 MB | 21 MB |
| 2 | Where in the WorldAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 03:47 | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| 3 | Crying in the RainAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 03:49 | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| 4 | Perchance to DreamAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 04:35 | 10 MB | 27 MB |
| 5 | AlienAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 04:32 | 10 MB | 28 MB |
| 6 | Mad as We AreAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 03:50 | 8 MB | 20 MB |
| 7 | Here in My HeartAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 03:43 | 8 MB | 23 MB |
| 8 | Love Is the RageAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 04:10 | 9 MB | 24 MB |
| 9 | Catch 22Andy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 03:36 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 10 | Moon & the SkyAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 04:22 | 10 MB | 29 MB |
| 11 | SurrealAndy Bell, C. Clarke | Erasure | Play | 05:13 | 11 MB | 30 MB |
| 44 mins | 102 MB | |||||
| 44 mins | 277 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ebby Acquah | Assistant, Engineer, Mixing |
| 2 | Andy Bell | Composer |
| 3 | C. Clarke | Composer |
| 4 | Vince Clarke | Composer |
| 5 | Erasure | Primary Artist, Producer |
| 6 | Flood | Producer |
| 7 | Martin Gardiner | Computer Graphics |
| 8 | Ben Hiller | Engineer |
| 9 | Intro | Design |
| 10 | Rob Kirwan | Mixing |
| 11 | Kieran Lynch | Assistant, Mixing |
| 12 | Ray Staff | Mastering |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |
| CD Quality | FLAC | 16bit 44.1kHz | FLAC is an audio coding format which uses lossless compression. Digital audio in FLAC format has a smaller size and retains the same quality of the original Compact Disc (CD). |