ERASURE
JULY 8
rasure’s longevity would be impressive
enough if the British cult-favorite
synth-pop duo was merely milking
the dance-friendly anthems that propelled
them into the spotlight in the 1980s.
Instead, singer Andy Bell and keyboardist
Vince Clarke continue to evolve, boldly
releasing the understated World Be Gone in
2017. In early 2018, they followed it with World
Beyond, a showcase for new orchestral arrangements
of World Be Gone material.
To reinterpret the 10 songs of World Be
Gone for World Beyond, Erasure collaborated
with the Brussels-based classical ensemble
Echo Collective, which also produced
the new album. It debuted at No. 1 on the
Billboard Classical Albums and Classical
Crossover Albums charts.
Classical? It just goes to show that Bell and
Clarke are nothing if not versatile. You can
see for yourself when Erasure brings its World
Be Gone Tour to the Walt Disney Theater on
July 8. Showtime is 8 p.m. and tickets are
priced starting at $34.50.
Echo Collective won’t be there. But Welsh
singer Bright Light Bright Light — otherwise
known as Rod Thomas — will be. In 2015,
Thomas toured with Elton John, who appears
as a guest vocalist on his most recent album,
Choreography.
Bell and Clarke are rightfully proud of
World Beyond, although its sound can’t be
replicated live without a full complement
of musicians. Still, expect them to deliver
28 artsLife | SUMMER 2018
Erasure’s album World Be Gone was reimagined
as World Beyond, which was recorded with the
Brussels-based ensemble Echo Collective.
intervals of more contemplative material,
such as “Still It’s Not Over,” which recalls the
struggle for LGBTQ acceptance.
“When Vince started working on the music
for the album (World Be Gone), I felt like
“I was thinking, ‘How am I going to put lyrics
to this?’”
It was Clarke’s idea to return to the studio
and record orchestral versions with Echo
Collective — a process that resulted in Bell
recording new vocal tracks as well.
“The collaboration has given elements of
the album a whole new feel, and Andy’s
vocals remain as powerful and uplifting as
ever,” Clarke adds. “Also, we have an incredible
following of fans, and it’s good to
keep them happy.”
Erasure and its happy fans have accounted
for sales of more than 25 million albums
worldwide. Since the duo formed in 1985,
Bell and Clarke have scored 17 Top 10 singles
Before Erasure, Clarke had already contributed
to the foundation of 1980s’ electronica
as a short-lived founding member
of Depeche Mode and as half of the likeminded
duo Yazoo.
When Bell turned up for a vocal audition for
his next project, Clarke immediately sensed a
spark. “We auditioned about 40 people before
I heard Andy,” he says. “A lot of good
singers, but nobody really had the right character.
When Andy opened his trap, it was instant.
His renditions were just outstanding.”
Erasure didn’t explode overnight.
The band’s 1986 debut album, Wonderland,
received lackluster reviews and yielded
poor sales. Then, powered by the single
“Sometimes,” a 1987 sophomore album, Circus,
reached No. 6 on the British charts.
Erasure hit No. 1 a year later with its third album,
The Innocents, which yielded the duo’s
“A Little Respect.”
That slow ascent ultimately contributed to
the band’s success, Clarke says: “We decided
that if radio wasn’t going to play our music,
the only way to get it across was to play it
live. So, we set out on touring, playing universities
and clubs. It was us against the world. It
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