Boy is now available from the UK and European iTunes stores.
The final 'Union Street' audio clip has been published this week, and it's the turn of 'Alien' - a song that originally appeared on the album 'Loveboat'.
The audio clips are available in Real & Windows Media formats.
As mentioned in an earlier EIS Newsletter, John Marshall (from the UK local radio station Lincs FM) interviewed Andy Bell, and asked several questions suggested by forum members.
A transcript of the interview, as well as an audio stream is available within the features section.
Erasure will be performing at the forthcoming GLAAD Awards event in New York on the 27th March 2006. GLAAD is the leading gay rights anti-defamation organization in America.
A two song performance from Erasure is expected, 'Boy' and another hit.
The event is being taped and will be broadcast on the US MTV channels VH-1 and Logo in mid-April.
Andy Bell releases a new single via Sanctuary Records on 22nd May 2006.
'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' is taken from the Erasure frontman's debut solo album 'Electric Blue', which was released in October 2005.
The single comes with a variety of new mixes from Goetz (Sugababes, Faithless), plus Jaded Alliance & Mr Do. 'Electric Blue', an album highlight, as well as the title track, has also been completely recrafted by MHC, who turn in a darker club mix destined for the world's electro dancefloors in coming months.
The package is completed with two brand new bonus tracks 'Back Into The Old Routine' and 'Jump'. Exact formats to be confirmed shortly.
Andy Bell has spent the last few months promoting 'Electric Blue' across Europe & America, and also played his first live gigs in Russia, including two sold-out shows in Moscow & St Petersburg.
'Electric Blue' is currently enjoying considerable success in the US, where the album reached #1 in the i-Tunes Dance Chart. The first single from the album 'Crazy' also spent over four months in the Billboard Dance Chart, peaking at #3.
The 'Electric Blue' album was co-produced and written with Philip Larsen & Chris Smith, aka Manhattan Clique, who have recently worked with Goldfrapp, Moby, Fischerspooner, The B-52's and Stereophonics.
"Oozes glamour, destined for every pop-dance lover's collection" (The Sun)
"A collection of lyric-heavy dance synthpop that over achieves and succeeds in its mingling of emotion and sexuality. It's time to trade in the lime green tutu for some electric blue body paint and let the show begin!" (popmatters.com)
Featuring 3 songs (Boy, Cry So Easy & I Bet You're Mad At Me) and a 'Vince-strumental' (Jacques Cousteau), the new Erasure release 'Boy' is out this week in the UK and Europe.
If anyone has had problems finding 'Boy' from their local retailer, it is available from many online sites such as Amazon UK & Mute Bank.
In addition, the 'Union Street' album is available for pre-ordered from Amazon UK as well.
'Boy' is to be available as a digital download, however there was a technical issue that delayed its digital release for this week.
It will be available for download from next week (27th March) for UK / Europe via the usual major download sites (iTunes etc.)
'Boy' is to be released in the US, but only as a digital download release. The date for the digital release of 'Boy' in the US is the 4th April.
Andy will be special guest DJ at The Two Brewers on Sunday 26th March.
There have been several recent interesting interviews / write-ups published: sundaymail.co.uk, musicomh.com, manchesteronline.co.uk & edgeboston.com.
An unofficial fan gathering / convention is currently being organised for the 5th August in the UK. To quote one of the organisers:
"We have a large function room booked with finger buffet and Eraser (the tribute band) for live entertainment and a DJ to play Erasure for as long as your ear drums hold out.
The location is Sheffield and the date is 5th of August.
The price is likely to be between £15 - £20"
Further information has been published on the Erasure Forum. Please inform 'the swan' via forum Private Message if you are interested in attending.
A German Erasure themed party is planned for April. Further details are available at gaststaettelango.de.
Due to the overwhelming demand for tickets for the US Erasure Acoustic show dates, the tour promoters are investigating the possibility of offering US Erasure fans a package deal to see the Nashville performance.
The Nashville show kicks off the North American leg of the tour, and those attending will be amongst the first to see Erasure's first ever full band acoustic performance in the US!
The Ryman Auditorium was home to The Grand Ole Opry for 30 years, and artists as diverse as Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hank Williams to Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks have played there.
This package deal will comprise of travel (say bus or plane) from Chicago, Atlanta, NYC etc, plus hotel and an extra (maybe a meet & greet with the band) for a set price (exact price to be determined, but it will certainly be a reasonable one.)
Now for this idea to work, it is critical that an accurate picture can be built up of the level of demand for this, plus the locations of where people would potentially be travelling from.
Therefore please post on the Erasure forum in this thread only if you are interested in this idea, and where you are located / would travel from. This information will be passed onto the promoters, so that they can determine the levels of demand at different geographical locations, and gauge the feasibility of this idea.
Please do this as quickly as possible and it is important that all feedback be concentrated in the one place.
For further information on the Ryman Auditorium, please visit their website.
Monday sees the release of Erasure's new single 'Boy'. With the ever changing UK chart rules, this 4 track release is not valid for the UK single charts, therefore it is for sale *now* from Mute Bank (£3.00 | €4.36 | $5.27 (not including p&p)).
The forthcoming album 'Union Street' is valid for the UK album charts, so will not be available from Mute Bank until 2 weeks after the UK release date, so please order the album from your local record store or larger UK based online store from the 3rd April.
As an aside, Mute Bank have very few remaining copies of the 'I Say I Say I Say' Limited Edition CD (LCDSTUMM115), the one with the 'Pop Up Castle' LP sleeve.
A new release and a new e-card!
Please send this e-card to people that you think may be interested in the 'Union Street' & 'Boy'.
The Erasure Sanctuary DVD (which was filmed at a special concert for EIS members) has just had it's NTSC (all regions) version re-pressed. This NTSC version is suitable for viewing in America / Japan etc (for full list of countries see this list), and can be ordered from Mute Bank (£14.99 | €21.81 | $26.34 (not including p&p)).
The PAL (all regions) version for UK / Europe is still available.
March 2006 will bring the return of "Erasure Night" to Chicago! Dance all night to the music of Erasure, Yazoo (a.k.a. Yaz), Andy Bell, Vince Clarke and more! Featuring DJ Dave Roberts, Kristine, and guest "spinner" Tim.
Location: NEO 2350 North Clark Street Chicago, IL
Date: Tues 28th March 2006 (10pm - 4am)
For further details see planetearthchicago.com
A good friend to the EIS, John Marshall (from the radio station Lincs FM) will be interviewing Andy Bell on Wednesday 22nd March.
John is kindly offering the opportunity for you to submit questions for him to ask Andy.
Reply to this thread on the Erasure Forum with your question.
An interesting interview with Andy Bell has just been published online on the floatationsuite.com website.
At the recent Music Week Awards, Daniel Miller (the founder of Mute) won the Strat award, which recognises ongoing success in the music industry.
A number of Mute artists including Andy Bell, Vince Clarke, Goldfrapp and Nick Cave recorded brief messages for Daniel, which can be viewed by following the links below.
Quicktime : Real Media : Windows Media
Further information regarding the Music Week Awards see musicweek.com.
A number of people have been asking if Mute will be producing slipcases for 'Boy' or 'Union Street'. I can confirm that Mute are not doing slipcases for either release.
The support act for the UK part of the Erasure Acoustic tour will be Ciaran McFeely (aka 'Simple Kid').
Biographies, photos and further information on 'Simple Kid' can be found at myspace.com and simplekid.co.uk.
Here is a picture of Vince and Tracy's son Oscar doing his best Andy Bell impression!!!!
The dates on which the tickets for the North American tour will be available are now listed on the 'live' page.
Follow the links provided for the exact times of the sale for each venue.