Critical Quote "Erasure can sound like all your favourite bands and completely
original at the same time. Thus 'Joan' is Disco gospel in its finest
hour crossed with T-Rex and Soft Cell sharing a gossipy cappuccino,
and 'Siren Song' is Sparks throwing a tantrum because Soft Cell have
stolen their lucky feather boas again." - NME
Onge Review
This popular number one album was their first release of the 1990s
and continued the success the band were enjoying from previous albums.
Apparently influenced by the Gulf War, this album encases some of
Erasure's more meaningful lyrics
and songs, as well as housing some pop classics. The album's namesake
song Chorus opens the album in rather weedy style: a repeating
verse (or second chorus) and nonsensical lyrics do not make this one
of Erasure's better efforts but
it did do well in the UK charts as a single. The excellent Waiting
For The Day makes up track two, a song about a lovers' tiff that
stretches the relationship, but ultimately leaves Andy waiting for
his lover to return. Perfect pop of the highest calibre, this could
no doubt have made a fine single itself. Joan is a similarly
fine song, perhaps guilty of a rather uninspired drum beat but still
a very enjoyable track. Martyn Phillips's production, as with the
whole album, is impressive and professional. Breath of Life
follows, a decent dancey love song but certainly not a track of outstanding
merit. However like Chorus, this song did well in the UK charts
demonstrating the popularity of the band that weaker songs from this
album could be released and still be appreciated by the record buying
public. Am I Right? concludes the first half of the album,
a beautiful ballad echoing loneliness in a big town. This single had
a perfect video that complimented the sentiments of song, but did
not perform that well in the UK charts. Beautifully produced, Andy's
imagery and Vince's subtle arrangement make for a gorgeous Erasure
classic.
The Dick Tracy Soundtrack reject Love To Hate You is
next up. This up-tempo stunner is a truly great Erasure
track, well performed and produced and clearly was too good for the
Madonna vehicle soundtrack. A fine choice for a single, it
performed well assisted by a fine video and deserved the success it
achieved. The album now slows as the band become more melancholy,
typified by Turns The Love To Anger. A nice effort by the band,
this song is a pleasant enough but will raise few eyebrows or excite
few people. Another leisurely track follows in the soothing Siren
Song. Again unexciting but still a fine song, it is full of imagery
and is a wholesome and agreeable song. Perfect Stranger is
more up-tempo without ever really breaking in a sweat as Andy warns
of the dangers of the seemingly flawless outsider who turns out not
to be the knight in shining armour hoped for. Once more the production
is of the highest standard. The album concludes with the excellent
Home, proclaimed by Vince as his favourite Erasure
song. Masterful from start to finish, this ballad is extremely popular
amongst the fans and rightfully so. Beautiful, encased with metaphors
and wonderfully performed this is one of Erasure's
finest.
Summary
Largely a fine album which does lack a certain style throughout. Too
many ballads slow the album somewhat, but as the song writing is of
Erasure's usual excellence this
does not detract from a essentially first-rate album. By no means
their best work, Chorus does
give an indication that Andy and Vince can write softer more emotive
music than previously seen.
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