Erasure - Union Street

by Anthony Strutt

published: 28 / 3 / 2006

Label: Select Label
Format: CD

Pleasant collection of acoustic reworkings of some of their old songs on new album from Erasure

Review

Erasure still remain one of Mute's most successful bands and also their most commercial. 'Union Street' is their latest record, and, featuring Erasure unplugged, consists of re-readings of 7 album tracks and a B side.Taking the tracks down to a bare minimal backing, it gives the songs new life and allows them more room to breathe. It opens with 'Piano Song', which sounds like R.E.M. when they did their 'Unplugged' session on MTV. 'Stay with Me' again sounds like R.E.M,, but adds some gentle flute and has a pleasant little riff. To say riff in an Erasure review is rare because their music is mostly keyboard based. 'Spiralling' is more classical in feel, features a finger picked guitar style and is very beautiful. 'Home' has a country flavour, while 'Tenderest Moments' is very gentle, almost calming and has a sad feel. 'Alien' has a bluegrass base, possibly sounding like it is being played on a banjo, and an echoing vocal. 'Blues Away' is more poppy but acoustic guitar based and has a high pitched vocal from Andy Bell. 'How Many Times ?' is a deep vocal based track with minimal guitar backing, while 'Love Affair' has a much bigger feel, with lovely production and some very sad string arrangements. 'Rock Me Gently' has the feel of a hymn. It is quite gospel in its approach. It could be Sir Cliff, but it is a good way to end this completely different style of Erasure album.

Track Listing:-

1 Boy
2 Piano Song
3 Stay with Me (Acoustic Union Street)
4 Spiralling (Acoustic Union Street)
5 Home (Acoustic Union Street)
6 Tenderest Moments
7 Alien (Acoustic Union Street)
8 Blues Away
9 How Many Times? (Acoustic Union Street)
10 Love Affair
11 Rock Me Gently (Acoustic Union Street)