They were simpler times. Writhing away to the theme tune to Tales of the Unexpected. How we laughed. But enough about me on Sunday afternoon visit to my Grandma’s.
Now do your Kate Bush impression, and so it went on. Happy days. So when the Erasure concert began with the backing singers writhing behind backlit gauze doing that very same dance, I knew we were in for the evening of fabulous tongue in cheek and utterly flamboyant fun you would expect from an Erasure concert.
Not a pair to take themselves too seriously, singer-songwriter Andy Bell and songwriter and keyboardist Vince Clarke entered the music scene back in 1985 and went on to become one of the most successful acts of the late 80’s, selling over 25 million albums worldwide.
Whilst on the face of it some might think they’ve jumped onto the nostalgia bandwagon, a look at their discography will show that they’ve never gone away. The tour in support of their 17th studio album, World Be Gone.
So, having penned 200 songs between them, how do you choose which to perform? Many would probably be happy with a performance of their 1992 compilation album, Pop- the first 20 hits which contained some of their best-known music from the platinum album Circus as well as Wild and Chorus. The songs you went wild to in your bedroom and shuffled awkwardly too at the School Disco.
Following the release of I Say I Say I Say in 1994, I kind of lost track of Erasure a little, but the hits kept coming. I’d grown up as had Erasure with a shift away from our beloved synth pop. The second compilation album, Total Pop – The first 40 hits doesn’t fare so well. The most recent album, World Be Gone, is a more restrained, thoughtful affair that addresses contemporary world events. Not the earworms of the likes of Victim of Love, but Erasure doing adulting is still worthy of a listen.
Thankfully the evening is a well thought out balance of the last three decades. They are supported by Bright Light Bright Light alias Welsh synth-pop artist Rod Thomas who cites Erasure as one of his biggest influences. The set is simple. Three neon-strip boxes. They don’t need anymore. Andy Bell fills the stage with his very presence. Vince Clarke above the stage like the captain of a ship called pop.
An ecstatic audience on their feet from the very first bars of opening number, Oh L’Amour. Interspersed between a showcase of their career we have little tales of life on the road
Apparently, they have a self-imposed rule of just one cover per show, so there was nothing from 1992 Abba-esque but we were treated to a cover of Blondie’s Atomic. Infectious pop song follows infectious pop song from Chains of Love to Stop.
Time has been kind to them. Andy still has the moves and importantly the voice. Hitting the high notes on A little Respect and being as reassuringly flamboyant as you’d expect.
Vince suited and booted we see less off. Despite some fantastic strobe lighting. Vince is kept primarily in the dark until he ditches the keyboard and joins Andy on stage for their parting gift to the cheering crowd, A Little Respect.
Its taken a couple of decades to realise it, but Erasure are bloody marvellous.
By Tanya Louise
Editor
@tanyalouise_
@tanyalouise_
