Synth-pop band, Erasure, has enjoyed a long and successful career ever since songwriter and keyboardist, Vince Clarke, posted an anonymous ad in Melody Maker looking for a singer. Clarke had already enjoyed tremendous success with Depeche Mode and Yazoo, although neither ended up providing him with what he was looking for. When Andy Bell (a big Vince Clarke fan already) responded to his ad and auditioned, his emotional interpretation of the music and his unique voice made Clarke take notice. After such brief stints with each of Clarke’s previous gigs, who could have predicted we’d be here 35 years later with their 18th studio album!
While Erasure has had limited success in the US with just three top 20 hits and none since the 80s, their continued success overseas and an extremely dedicated fan base here has kept them in the public eye and not as a comeback band. I still remember hearing “Oh L’Amour” for the first time at a college party. After buying every record and going to at least one show at most of their tours, here we are in 2020 with their latest. Released just this morning (August 21st), I’ve been listening on repeat so I can bring you my initial thoughts.
Completed during the pandemic, with Clarke in Brooklyn and Bell in London, at an unreal time in all our lives, “The Neon” harkens back to happier times. Songs from the new record remind me most of something in between 1991’s “Chorus” and 1995’s “Erasure”, with a bit of their debut “Wonderland” thrown in.
The first track “Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)” gets you in the dancing mood right away and the second track and latest single “Nerves of Steel”, takes me back to the 80s! In fact, the intro baseline from “Shot a Satellite” reminds me of the baseline from OMD’s “Messages”. My initial favorite tracks are “Nerves of Steel”, “Fallen Angel” and “Kid You’re Not Alone”. This may change as the album continues to grow on me.
While a couple of the songs feel like they’re missing that crescendo that I always associate with dancing to Erasure songs, this album is definitely a strong entry into their catalog and it’s probably my favorite Erasure record since “Nightbird”.
Listen/buy the new record via your favorite service:
Erasure – The Neon
Here are some photos from their 2014 show at Terminal 5 in New York City!
Click on photos to enlarge
NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2025