Album Review: Erasure – Always: The Very Best of Erasure
2 min read
Erasure were one of the biggest global pop superstars of the late eighties, with music that defined an era and continues to influence the work of chart-toppers today. UK synth-pop pioneers Andy Bell and Vince Clarke have amassed a huge following over the past three decades, producing no fewer than 16 studio albums, 17 top 10 singles and 34 Top 40 hits. To date they have sold a cool 25 million albums and received numerous awards including two BRIT awards and a Novello. Their back-catalogue has not only outshone many of their peers: it’s endured.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the group’s 1985 debut release Wonderland and to celebrate, Erasure have released Always – The Very Best Of Erasure. With such an extensive history from which to compile an anniversary special, the compilation has been made available as a standard 1 CD edition and deluxe 3 CD release that comprises glittering fan favourites that showcase the evolution of Erasure’s sound and the development of their electro-pop style.
The standard edition begins with a reflection of the early years with the very first single Who Needs Love (Like That) and wonderfully camp Oh L’Amour, progressing through a 20 track selection of musical history that brushes through the introspective 90s with Love To Hate You and Chorus and of course includes Top 10 hit A Little Respect. This CD finishes appropriately with the 2015 edition of Sometimes, a reworking by David Wrench with subtle additions to the electronics and more layering to the vocals, an enjoyable modernisation of the original that was released as a single this September, kicking off the anniversary celebrations.
Though there have been other Best Of… releases by Erasure over the years, Always – The Very Best Of Erasure serves to demonstrate the sheer passion and longevity of appeal of Bell and Clarke. The anniversary release is a beautifully nostalgic arrangement for the fans that will remember dancing at clubs in the heyday. Given their phenomenal achievements, Erasure certainly deserve to celebrate!
