Erasure (album)

Last updated

Erasure
Erasure album.jpg
Studio album by
Erasure
Released24 October 1995
Recorded1995
Studio
  • Strongroom (London)
  • Sorcerer Sound (New York City)
  • 37B (Chertsey, England) [1]
Genre
Length71:25
Label Mute
Producer
Erasure chronology
I Say I Say I Say
(1994)		Erasure
(1995)		 Cowboy
(1997)
Singles from Erasure
  1. "Stay with Me"
    Released: 11 September 1995
  2. "Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)"
    Released: 27 November 1995
  3. "Rock Me Gently"
    Released: 12 February 1996
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Cash Box (favorable) [3]
Music & Media (favorable) [4]
NME 6/10 [5]

Erasure is the seventh studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 23 October 1995 by Mute Records. It was produced by Thomas Fehlmann (of the Orb) and Gareth Jones.

Contents

An overtly experimental and introspective album, Erasure contains 11 mostly mid-tempo tracks that differed from their past output of shiny, three-minute pop songs. Most tracks clock in at five minutes or more, several contain long synth interludes, and guest artists include the London Community Gospel Choir and performance artist Diamanda Galás.

Although appreciated for its experimental nature, Erasure marked the beginning of Erasure's slide from the peak of their popularity in the mainstream music world.[ citation needed ] Coming off four consecutive number-one albums in the UK, this album failed to hit the top 10, and two single releases also missed the UK top ten. After a successful top 20 debut on the Billboard 200 for their previous album I Say I Say I Say , Erasure debuted and peaked at number 82 in the US and generated no Hot 100 singles. In Germany the album also peaked lower than previous albums, at number 87.

In an interview with DJ Ron Slomowicz circa 2006, Erasure were asked for their favourite album from their own catalogue. Bell stated "it's a toss-up between Chorus and the self-titled Erasure album from 1995." [6]

Critical reception

Upon its release, Paul Moody of NME considered Erasure to be "almost more of the same" from the duo, except "there's a darker hue to their electronic meanderings this time around". He felt Clarke was "intent on making [a] serious-minded electronic piece" which, in turn, "makes their more heart-warming indulgences altogether less accessible" and resulted in "neither a ground-breaking slide into ambience or a fan-pleasing stomp over familiar ground". He concluded, "The overall impression is of Clarke spending endless weeks in his studio fully believing himself to be orbiting Ursa Minor while Bell blubs and bellows his way through the tormented pages of his diary whenever he gets the chance." [5] Paul Lester of Melody Maker was negative in his review, calling the album "cheesy" and "a bit flat". He remarked the album was like "a Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber extravaganza set to an electro beat", "soundtrack music for Star Wars 6" and "handbag techno-pop featuring Bell's I-wanna-be-Judy-Garland impressions". He singled out "Stay with Me" as the exception, commenting that "you forget about Bell's grating neo-operatic warble and wonder instead at one of those breathtaking chord sequences Clarke seems to contrive every few years". [7]

Reissues

Subsequent to their acquisition of Erasure's back catalog, and in anticipation of the band's 30th anniversary in 2016, BMG commissioned reissues of all previously released UK editions of Erasure albums up to and including 2007's Light at the End of the World . All titles were pressed and distributed by Play It Again Sam on 180-gram vinyl and shrinkwrapped with a custom anniversary sticker.

In September 2022, Erasure announced the re-release of their self-titled 7th album in a special hardback book edition, with a bonus CD of remixes, released on 18 November 2022 through Mute/BMG records. [8]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke

No.TitleLength
1."Intro: Guess I'm into Feeling"3:38
2."Rescue Me"6:10
3."Sono Luminus"7:51
4."Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)"6:44
5."Rock Me Gently"10:01
6."Grace"5:54
7."Stay with Me"6:43
8."Love the Way You Do So"6:43
9."Angel"5:32
10."I Love You"6:29
11."A Long Goodbye"5:34
Total length:71:25
2022 Expanded Edition, Disc two
No.TitleLength
1."Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)" (SoundFactory remix radio edit) 
2."Angel" (Love Eternal remix by TSF) 
3."Rock Me Gently" (Stubbleman remix) 
4."Stay with Me" (guitar mix) 
5."Sono Luminus" (live acoustic version) 
6."True Love Wars" 
7."Hi NRG" 
8."Chertsey Endlos" 
9."Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer Day)" (Daybreakers mix) 
10."Stay with Me" (NY mix) 
11."True Love Wars" (Omni mix) 
12."Rock Me Gently" (demo) 
13."Sono Luminus" (demo) 
14."Cold Summer's Day" (Wigstock version) 
15."Rock Me Gently" (Glen Nicholls & Nick Squires remix) 

Personnel

Production

Charts

Chart performance for Erasure
Chart (1995)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [9] 175
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [10] 33
Canada Top Albums/CDs ( RPM ) [11] 43
European Albums ( Music & Media ) [12] 80
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [13] 87
Scottish Albums (OCC) [14] 25
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [15] 26
UK Albums (OCC) [16] 14
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [17] 2
US Billboard 200 [18] 82

Certifications

Certifications for Erasure
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [19] Silver60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

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<i>Loveboat</i> (album) 2000 studio album by Erasure

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<i>Hits! The Very Best of Erasure</i> Compilation album by Erasure

Hits! The Very Best of Erasure is the second greatest hits album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 20 October 2003 by Mute Records. Capitalising on a resurgence of Erasure's music after their successful covers album Other People's Songs, Mute released Hits! in order to reintroduce people to the duo's music and to give an update to their 1992 singles compilation Pop! The First 20 Hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Who Needs Love Like That</span> 1985 single by Erasure

"Who Needs Love Like That" is the debut single of English synth-pop duo Erasure. The song was released in the UK on Mute Records in 1985 as a prelude to their debut album, Wonderland (1986). The accompanying music video was directed by John Scarlett Davies and produced by Nick Verden for Aldabra. While the original 1985 release enjoyed only minor success, the later "Hamburg Mix" version reached the top 10 in both the UK and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A Little Respect</span> 1988 single by Erasure

"A Little Respect" is a song written and recorded by British synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1988 by Mute. It was written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. The lyrics are a plea to a lover to show compassion and respect. The heavily synthesized instrumentation is accentuated by acoustic guitar and Bell's vocal falsetto in the chorus. It was their tenth single and was taken from their third studio album, The Innocents (1988). Known as one of their signature songs, the single reached number four on the UK Singles Chart and was Erasure's second consecutive top-20 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, where it made number 14, and reached number two on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drama!</span> 1989 single by Erasure

"Drama!" is the first single released from English synth-pop duo Erasure's fourth studio album, Wild! (1989). Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the song begins with a low-key keyboard line and a subdued vocal from Bell. As the song progresses, the instrumentation and vocals become more hectic, ultimately ending as a full-blown dance track. "Drama!" contains a "Guilty!" exclamation throughout, provided by Scottish band the Jesus and Mary Chain, who were recording in the studio next door. The song was met with critical acclaim from both music critics and fans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Am I Right?</span> 1991 single by Erasure

"Am I Right?" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in November 1991 in Europe and Canada as the third single from their fifth studio album, Chorus (1991). Written by Erasure members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, the ballad peaked at number 15 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stay with Me (Erasure song)</span> 1995 single by Erasure

"Stay with Me" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released in September 1995 by Mute Records as the lead single from their self-titled, seventh studio album, Erasure (1995). Written by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it is a slow love ballad. Starting with simple synth chords from Clarke and subdued vocal from Bell, the song builds to a mid-tempo gospel-influenced conclusion, complete with vocal contributions from the London Community Gospel Choir. Like the other two singles from this album, it was edited for its release. In an interview with John Marshall from Lincs FM in 2009, Bell stated that "Stay With Me" was one of his favourite Erasure songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock Me Gently (Erasure song)</span> 1996 single by Erasure

"Rock Me Gently" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure. It was written by group members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, and appears on their seventh studio album, Erasure (1995). Mute Records released it in February 1996 as a single in selected European countries, including Germany and Czech Republic. It was not released in the UK or the US. In its album form, the song is an extended, ten-plus minutes mid-tempo synth ballad with ambient elements and a free-form vocal performance by American singer Diamanda Galás, during the song's breakdown. Bell's lead vocals were accentuated by the London Community Gospel Choir, who sang background. "Rock Me Gently" was significantly altered for its single release, adding a radio-friendly drum track to the mix and editing out most of the Galás interlude. An extended version of this mix was included on the CD single, retaining the Galás section while keeping the new instrumentation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In My Arms (Erasure song)</span> 1997 single by Erasure

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<i>Light at the End of the World</i> 2007 studio album by Erasure

Light at the End of the World is the thirteenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 14 May 2007 by Mute Records. The album's release was announced on the band's website on 26 January 2007 in a video message from members Vince Clarke and Andy Bell. It reached the UK top 30 upon its release.

<i>Tomorrows World</i> (album) 2011 studio album by Erasure

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<i>World Be Gone</i> 2017 studio album by Erasure

World Be Gone is the seventeenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released by Mute Records on 19 May 2017 in the United Kingdom and on 20 May 2017 in North America. The album reached number six on the UK Albums Chart, dropping out of the chart the next week.

<i>World Be Live</i> 2018 live album by Erasure

World Be Live is a live album by the English synthpop duo Erasure, released by Mute Records in 2018. The album is the third in a trilogy of releases, following studio albums World Be Gone in 2017 and World Beyond in 2018.

<i>The Neon</i> (album) 2020 studio album by Erasure

The Neon is the eighteenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 21 August 2020 by Mute Records. The album debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart with 8,394 copies sold in its first week.

References

  1. ↑ Miller, Jonathan. "Erasure - Under Cover". Garethjones.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2020.
  2. ↑ "AllMusic ((( Erasure > Review )))". AllMusic . Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. ↑ Baltin, Steve (20 January 1996). "Pop Albums" (PDF). Cash Box . p. 9. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "New Releases: Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . 28 October 1995. p. 10. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  5. 1 2 Moody, Paul (21 October 1995). "Long Play: 'Sure Fire Hit". New Musical Express . p. 52. ISSN   0028-6362.
  6. ↑ Slomowicz, Ron (2006). "Erasure - Union Street Interview". About Entertainment. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Lester, Paul (28 October 1995). "Albums". Melody Maker . p. 41. ISSN   0025-9012.
  8. ↑ Sinclair, Paul (4 October 2022). "Erasure 2CD Deluxe Edition". Super Deluxe Edition.
  9. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 95.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – Erasure" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  11. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2800". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media . Vol. 12, no. 45. 11 November 1995. p. 20. OCLC   29800226 – via World Radio History.
  13. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – Erasure" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  14. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  15. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Erasure – Erasure". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  16. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  17. ↑ "Independent Albums" (PDF). Music Week . 11 November 1995. p. 22. ISSN   0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  18. ↑ "Erasure Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  19. ↑ "British album certifications – Erasure – Erasure". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 26 November 2022.
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