Nightbird - Erasure

Release date: Monday 24 January 2005

Popular 80s duo Vince Clark and Andy Bell should be proud of Nightbird, which is their first album of original Erasure material since the 2000 release of Loveboat. But what we have here is quality - much stronger lyrics and altogether catchy and classier selection, very reminiscent of their earlier music.

Nightbird's best tracks are the excellent Because Our Love is Real and the equally impressive I'll Be There. Others include catchy dance anthem Here I Go Impossible Again, Take One More Rocket to the Moon, All This Time Still Falling Out of Love, I Broke It All in Two and I Bet You're Mad At Me plus the soulful Breathe, which was released as a single on 3 January 2005 prior to the album release. It's an album without a dud song, which makes a refreshing change to the many albums which rely on big hits to overlook the poorer filler tracks.

Clarke and Bell re-introduce the memorable pop sounds which contributed to their success in the late 80s and early 90s - they sold over 25 million records. The synth pop is back in Nightbird, complete with electro beats and catchy, upbeat tunes. The title is about Andy Bell's insomnia and the relaxed, mellow feel that emanates throughout the album makes it a fitting title.

Although there are no instantly dance-along tracks such as Oh L'Amour or Sometimes, it's an impressive album nonetheless, mixing in trip hop, 80s retro and mellow dance grooves. Considering that their last truly great album was Chorus, which was all the way back in 1991, Nightbird, the group's twelfth studio album, will certainly go down a storm with their fans who will appreciate the Erasure style above all else.

For more information about the band visit the official web site www.erasureinfo.com

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