Erasure – World Be Gone (Mute Records)
Vinyl / CD / Cassette / DL
19 May 2017
8.5 / 10
Any pop purist from the 80s will have fond memories of
Erasure. For over thirty years they have
remained a stalwart act and following their resurgence after 2014s The Violet
Flame and 2016s 30th anniversary celebrations they are once more in
the spotlight. Vince Clarke’s recent extra-curricular
activities with the likes of Jean-Michael Jarre and Martin Gore together with
Andy Bell’s collaborations with Shelter and exploits as polysexual Torsten have
given the duo a recharge and World Be Gone sees them release arguably one of
their best pieces of work.
It’s fair to say that they have becomes masters of the pop
song and now in their 50s seem to create likeable, addictive tunes with
masterful ease. Sure, they haven’t had a
single in the UK charts for ten years but is the Top 40 still a thing? Albums
have continued to reap success and their ever loyal fans would tell you that
they remain as good, if not better, than ever.
So what of World Be Gone?
An album sleeve that has been described as a tribute to previous album
sleeves or a nation rising out of to the challenge of Brexit – (both may be wide
of the mark, it may just be the bow of a boat on the ocean) – gives little away
and only fuels the intrigue. Ten tracks
that will resonate with people of a certain age and may well attract younger
fans too.
Album opener and recent single, Love You To The Sky is possibly
the best thing they have written for ten years.
It has everything that the pop fan demands – pumping percussive line,
banks of backing sound, catchy verses and even catchier chorus. Bell sounds at his best, a voice that is
instantly recognisable, stronger and better than ever he is at the height of
his career whilst Clarke, regarded as a musical genius does what he does best –
simple yet somehow complex musical accompaniment.
The title track and A Bitter Parting are Erasure at their
simplest, the former being a little nugget
tucked away on the album and the later a potential fan favourite sees a chorus
which will no doubt have mobile phone torches (the new matchstick or cigarette
lighter) held aloft at live performances.
Still It’s Not Over is simply great song writing.
Oh What A World is fascinating. Venturing into the dark world of Erasure not
often seen. Musically, a deep bass tone
pervades and Bell sounds almost robotic as he describes the unpredictable world
we live in. It has to be heard to be
believed as it briefly shows a different side of the duo and is strangely addictive.
Sweet Summer Loving is an unrequited love song and as such
is gorgeous as one of those things that Erasure do so well and Lousy Sum Of
Nothing borders on anthemic whilst it once more reflects on world events.
With World Be Gone, Erasure have come up trumps not just by
their own standards but also in good, refreshing pop music. They are back on the Radio 2 ‘A List’ and
will support Robbie Williams on twenty seven dates this year. The fine art of perfect pop has never been so
easily achieved and Erasure it would seem have is mastered.
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