The Quietus have published a review of the new Erasure album "Total Pop" The First 40 Hits".
"...Erasure deserve to be celebrated for their sparkling originality and crusading flamboyance, but mostly for their impeccable tuneage. Be out and be proud."
Think being a diva is all about employing someone to remove the blue M&Ms from your sweetie jar? Then you need to let Erasure's singer guide you through these tunes by his favourite divas.
"To me, a diva is not not somebody who goes around demanding they get everything on their rider list," says Erasure's Andy Bell. "I think a true diva is someone who really practises their art and makes moving records."
The recent Gaydar Radio interview with Andy Bell has now been published online.
"The time goes so fast, I don't know where it's all gone...this now kind of landed in my lap, the Total Pop! The First 40 Hits thing. I thought, 'Wow, this is what we've been doing the whole time'."
The Metro ("Britain's first urban national newspaper") has interviewed Vince Clarke for their regular '60 second interview' feature, which is published on page 10 of the Wednesday 25th February edition.
The interview is also available online at metro.co.uk
To celebrate the release of 'Total Pop!' The Pink Paper are running a competition with several Erasure goodies to give away, such as a signed vintage promotional photo or signed double CD.
Visit pinkpaper.com for further details.
As well as offering 59 tracks worth of 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits' for an incredible £9.99, iTunes have also published Andy and Vince's comments on their top 11 songs. Check out this link to view their playlist.
Further reviews of 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits' have recently been published, from Bad Robot, Mojo and Uncut. The Peterborough Evening Telegraph are also running a competition to win a signed copy of the album.
The Scottish arts, events and entertainment publication The List has reviewed the new 'Total Pop!' collection.
Vince Clarke is one of the great unsung heroes of British music. His work as part of Yazoo, Depeche Mode and Erasure ranges from great to tremendous and this beefy two-disc set is a fine overview of the latter's achievements.
Andy BellÁs silky tones were always the perfect foil for ClarkeÁs electronics and songs like 'Oh L'Amour', 'Sometimes' and 'Ship of Fools' are timeless examples of quality pop craftsmanship, which, for the most part, have aged exceptionally well.
The website Subba-Cultcha has recently interviewed Andy Bell and have just published the interview online.
Erasure's 'Total Pop - The First 40 Hits' double album and box-set are released today.
The double album contains Erasure first 40 hits over two CD's (all remastered). The box-set features the same two CD's, a third CD featuring songs from various tours, an 'Erasure at the BBC' DVD containing BBC live performances of Erasure over the years and a 80 page full colour book.
Many high street retailers will have the double album - you will have to try the larger music retailers such as HMV for the 4 disc box-set. Of course many online retailers are selling it, including The Erasure Shop (with free postcard set), Amazon and HMV.
The digital download release of 'Total Pop The First 40 Hits' is also out now, from retailers such as Amazon MP3 and 7Digital. It contains all the songs from the 'Total Pop The First 40 Hits' double album and 3 additional tracks:
- Oh L'Amour (August Mix)
- Boy (Acoustic)
- All This Time Still Falling Out Of Love
In addition, iTunes have all the tracks from the double album, the 3 additional tracks listed above, plus all the songs from disc 3 (the live CD from the box-set) available as part of their 'Total Pop' download - that's a total of 59 tracks for £9.99
The 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits Deluxe' pre-order special offer that The Erasure Shop (Lexer Music) concludes at the end of today.
The free pre-order bonuses are:
- Pop! Treasure - an exclusive four track MP3 download (with artwork).
- Prize Draw Entry - First prize is Andy's white "Elvis" costume designed for 'The Erasure Show' tour.
- Exclusive Postcard Set - a set of three 6" by 4" postcards featuring Pop! related artwork.
For further details visit The Erasure Shop (Lexer Music).
This video clip is of Andy & Vince performing 'A Little Respect' on the BBC early Saturday morning children's programme 'Going Live' back in October 1988.
Video streams: QuickTime, Real Media and Windows Media.
This 'Going Live' performance is one of many that is featured on disc 4 (the DVD) of the 'Total Pop The First 40 Hits Deluxe' boxset.
Remembertheeighties.com have just published online an interview with Andy Bell and are running a competition where three winners will each receive a 'Total Pop Deluxe' box-set plus an set of autographed photographs.
To read the interview and to enter the competition, visit remembertheeighties.com.
Gayle from Real Radio had a chance to speak to Andy Bell. They had a natter about Erasure's long and successful career, as well as selling bread to the Cheeky Girls. It's a long story! Basically, Andy lives in Hastings and occasionally works in a bakery. Random or what?
Erasure have just brought out 'Total Pop' which features 40 of their biggest hits. If you get a chance to listen to it, we promise you'll be amazed how many awesome songs they've had in over twenty years of music making!
Have a listen to the interview online here.
Rachel Pegg from the Brighton, Hove & Sussex magazine Latest 7 takes to Andy Bell about a life in music, the rebirth of electronica and Erasure's new album.
Since 1985, Erasure have produced 13 albums and sold 20 million copies. So does releasing a collection of 40 hits bring home how phenomenal that success has been for the former butcher from Peterborough?
"It's a nice reminder when you step back and see how much youÁve actually done," says Andy. "We've been round the world a few times and done loads and loads of shows and the amount of albums weÁve done is probably a record. It's nice to see all the songs there together."
Some people, Andy says, think the band broke up in the 90s. In fact, theyÁve released five albums since 2000 and are getting back together for more writing in the autumn, with a view to touring next year.
The UK radio station Lincs FM is giving you the chance to win a copy of Erasure's greatest hits "Total Pop" double CD - tune in this weekend for your chance to win.
In addition, John Marshall's interview with Andy Bell will air this Sunday at 11:30.
You can listen to Lincs FM live via the internet, DAB radio in North East Lincolnshire and on 102.2FM in Lincolnshire and Newark. Further tuning in details online.
Franz Ferdinand have announced details of the release of a new single, "No You Girls", through Domino on 6th April 2009.
Taken from their recent album, "Tonight: Franz Ferdinand", the single will also feature remixes from the legendary Vince Clarke, Noze and John Disco.
The single was produced by Dan Carey and the band as part of the album sessions which took place at the band's own HQ in Govan, Glasgow and Carey's South London studio.
Andy Bell was recently interviewed by Hannah Lucinda Smith for Manchester publication CityLife.
"Vince and I will be going back into the studio in the autumn ² heÁs got a set up in a log cabin in the States - so hopefully we'll get a new album out by 2010"
The full interview can be read online at citylife.co.uk.
Several fans mixes created by Andy Hagerty, Roland Pauk and Todd Bauerle have been added to the 'Treasure' section.
Andy Bell will be interviewed during the Simon Le Vans show on the afternoon of Thursday 26th February on Gaydar Radio.
Gaydar Radio is available on DAB multiplexes in London and Brighton, across the UK on Sky Digital CH 0158 and online.
Just a reminder that if you wish to take advantage of the 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits Deluxe' pre-order offer that The Erasure Shop (Lexer Music) is running, you only have 7 days remaining as the special offer ends on Friday the 20th February.
The free pre-order bonuses are:
- Pop! Treasure - an exclusive four track MP3 download (with artwork).
- Prize Draw Entry - First prize is Andy's white "Elvis" costume designed for 'The Erasure Show' tour.
- Exclusive Postcard Set - a set of three 6" by 4" postcards featuring Pop! related artwork.
For further details visit shop.lexermusic.com.
Andy Bell will be a special guest on the live ITV1 daytime lifestyle / talk show Loose Women on Monday 23rd February at 12:30 and is on for one hour.
The show is repeated the next morning (24th February) at 2:30.
Have a listen to two of Andy Bell's favourite songs each day (and hear him explain his choices) during the 'Tracks Of My Years' segment on BBC Radio 2 between 9:30 and 12:00 throughout the week, between the 16th and 20th February.
Normally hosted by Ken Bruce, the show will be hosted by Aled Jones for that week.
BBC Radio 2 is available via:
- 88-91FM (UK National Radio)
- DAB Digital Radio
- Online via bbc.co.uk
- Virgin Media (Ch 902)
- Freeview (Ch 702)
- Freesat (Ch 702)
- Sky Digital (Ch 0102)
- Tiscali TV (Ch 602)
Andy Bell will be co-presenting The 80's Show with Neil Francis on Absolute Radio on Friday 20th February from 19:00 until 22:00.
Absolute Radio is available via:
- 105.8FM (London & South East Radio)
- DAB Digital Radio
- Online via absoluteradio.co.uk
- Virgin Media (Ch 915)
- Freeview (Ch 727)
- Sky Digital (Ch 0107)
- Tiscali TV (Ch 620)
This is the final audio preview from the new Erasure Pop! Remixed release which is out this week (UK and EU) on CD and digital download, and it's the turn of the 'Komputer Remix' of the classic Erasure song 'Victim Of Love'.
Pop! Remixed is available as a 10 track CD from music retailers such as The Erasure Shop [Lexer Music] (with free postcard), Amazon UK, HMV, Play.com and others.
It is also available as two digital download bundles from stores such as 7digital, Amazon MP3, iTunes and Play.com.
The brand new Polly Scattergood single 'Other Too Endless' is out on 23rd February and will be available on CD and digital download.
A remix of 'Other Too Endless' by Vince Clarke is available as part of the digital download bundle, and you can listen to his mix now via Polly's MySpace site - check it out!
You can also download an exclusive Polly Scattergood album sampler here.
Vince Clarke is interviewed in the March 2009 (issue #136) edition of Computer Music magazine, where he talks about his past work, not to mention his conversion to Apple Macs and Logic following many years with the ancient UMI sequencer on the BBC Micro.
Vince Clarke is a man who requires absolutely no introduction to electronic music fans. Everyone knows him from his pioneering synth work with Depeche Mode, through to Yazoo and The Assembly, right up to the present day and the longest running of his musical projects, Erasure.
All in all, Clarke has been applying his maverick synth-pop talents to the charts for almost 30 years now.
He's continually coming up with pristine electronic works and has carved himself a reputation as one of the most consistent and successful pop writers of all time, not to mention one of the foremost users and collectors of analogue modular synthesisers.
You can order this issue (as well as recent back issues) by calling 0870 837 4773 in the UK, +44 1858 438795 everywhere else, or emailing future@subscription.co.uk
The latest edition of GT magazine has reviewed 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits'.
When is the Erasure revival going to happen? Hopefully this collection of their first 40 hits might be the catalyst.
Unlike their Electro brethren of yore (Depeche Mode, New Order), they don't appear to be held in such high esteem. Which is weird, because - as listening to this album proves - there are Pop nuggets to be mined in these here hills!
Who but the most hard-hearted can deny the joys of Always, Oh L'Amour and A Little Respect? And for the beat freaks, there's and extended EP of remixes worth investigating.
John Marshall from the UK radio station Lincs FM recently interviewed Andy Bell, who is promoting the new Erasure release 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits'.
John has kindly allowed the Erasure website to publish the complete unabridged interview, which you can read and listen to here.
Luke Turner from the rock music and pop culture website The Quietus talks to Andy Bell about his new life in the south coast town of Hastings.
Read the interview online at thequietus.com.
This story has been picked up and mentioned by NME.
"'Wonky Pop' Esser vs 'Synth Pop' Andy Bell"
Andy Bell interviews (and is interviewed by) Esser in the March edition (#35) of the UK music magazine Clash, in their excellent 'Personality Clash' feature.
You can read a excerpt at clashmusic.com, with the full article available in the magazine, which is available at Tesco, WH Smith, HMV, Borders & all good independent newsagents and music retailers. Back issues are available for purchase online via clashmusic.com.
Mickey McMonagle from the Scottish Sunday Mail presents his weekly entertainment round-up with the Green Room and reviews 'Pop! Remixed'.
ERASURE - Pop Remixed *****
One of the definitive 80s bands return with a remix package, updating many of their synth-pop hits from the 80s and 90s. Songs like A Little Respect still sound as good.
Sensational stuff and an ideal introduction to the band. MM
Erasure Pop! Remixed - CD Out Now (UK)
Now available is Pop! Remixed, the brand new Erasure release which features the new Jeremy Wheatley remix of 'Always' plus remixes from Vince Clarke, Andy Bell & JC, Mark Picchiotti, Manhattan Clique, Komputer and Sweden's Sound Factory.
The CD is available from music retailers such as The Erasure Shop [Lexer Music] (with free postcard), Amazon UK, HMV, Play.com and others.
Pop! Remixed (10 Track CD)
- Always (2009 Mix)
- Victim Of Love (Komputer Remix)
- Freedom (Mark Pichiotti - Strumapella Remix)
- Drama! (Andy Bell & JC Remix)
- A Little Respect (Avantara Remix)
- Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) (Sound Factory Remix)
- Ship Of Fools (Soil In The Synth Remix)
- Always (MHC Remix)
- Chorus (Electronic Periodic Remix)
- Stop! (Vince Clarke Sync 82 Remix)
![The Erasure Shop [Lexer Music]](gfx/email_lexermusic.gif "The Erasure Shop [Lexer Music]"){kind=small}
You can view the video for 'Always (2009 Mix)' on YouTube and find further information on 'Pop! Remixed' and the 'Total Pop! The First 40 Hits Deluxe' Boxset at totalerasure.com.
Pop! Remixed - Digital Download Out Now (UK/Europe)
Pop! Remixed is also available as two digital download bundles from stores such as 7digital, Amazon MP3, iTunes and Play.com.
Pop! Remixed (4 Track Digital Download)
- Always (2009 Mix)
- Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) (Sound Factory Remix Radio Edit)
- A Little Respect (Avantara Remix Radio Edit)
- Always (MHC Remix Radio Edit)
Pop! Remixed (11 Track Digital Download)
- Always (2009 Mix)
- Victim Of Love (Komputer Remix)
- Freedom (Mark Pichiotti - Strumapella Remix)
- Drama! (Andy Bell & JC Remix)
- A Little Respect (Avantara Remix)
- Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day) (Sound Factory Remix)
- Ship Of Fools (Soil In The Synth Remix)
- Always (MHC Remix)
- Chorus (Electronic Periodic Remix)
- Stop! (Vince Clarke Sync 82 Remix)
- Drama! (Dogmatix Dramatical Dub)
This video clip is of Erasure's performance of 'Always' as featured on the 7th April 1994 edition of 'Top Of The Pops'.
The full video is available on the forthcoming 4 disc box-set, see totalerasure.com for further details.
The 'Pop! Remixed' CD is released this forthcoming Monday 9th February - available as a ten track CD (UK) and as two digital download bundles (UK/EU + others). The 4 track download features the radio edits and the 11 track download featuring a bonus track.
'Pop! Remixed' is available from many online retailers, although only The Erasure Shop (Lexer Music) has it available with the bonus postcard.
Rhino Presents Career-Spanning Boxed Set (3CD/DVD) Featuring Newly Remastered Versions of All The Band's Singles on Two Discs, a CD of Vintage Live Performances, And a DVD of Rare Live BBC Performances
Available From Rhino April 7
Erasure's world-conquering anthems of love, lust and longing have made it one of the most beloved and enduring success stories in modern British pop music history. After more than two decades, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke (founding member of Depeche Mode and Yaz) have sold more than 15 million albums around the globe, proving themselves masters of every kind of song from disco symphonies to unplugged ballads.
Rhino shows 'a little respect' to the group with a four-disc boxed set (3CD/DVD) that includes all of the band's singles (remastered in 2009) on two discs, a career-spanning collection of live performances on a third CD and a DVD of the group's best BBC appearances.
Total Pop! - Deluxe Box will be available April 7 from Rhino Records at all retail outlets, including www.rhino.com, for a suggested list price of $54.98.
On the same day, April 7, Rhino will also release Pop! Remixed as a digital only exclusive. Pop! Remixed features remixes from Vince Clarke, Mark Picchiotti, Manhattan Clique, Komputer, Sweden's Sound Factory and a mix of "Drama!" by Andy Bell and JC.
The first disc contains a newly remastered version of Pop! ² The First 20 Hits, Erasure's 1992 singles compilation and the group's fourth consecutive #1 album in the U.K. Arranged chronologically, the disc encompasses all of the group's singles, from its 1986 debut Wonderland to the 1992 EP, Abba-esque. Among the many highlights are Top 20 U.S. hits "Chains Of Love" and "A Little Respect;" the #1 Dance smash "Victim Of Love;" fan favorites "Oh L'Amour" and "Chorus," plus a remix of the band's first single, "Who Needs Love (Like That)."
The second disc picks up where the first left off, offering 19 singles released from 1994 to 2007, the year of the band's most recent studio album, Light At The End Of The World. It opens with the Top 20 U.S. hit "Always," closing with Jeremy Wheatley's new mix of the song, made especially for this collection. The disc features such standouts as "In My Arms," "Breathe" and a stellar cover of Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill," from 2003's Other People's Songs.
For the collection's final CD, the band assembles 15 stunning and rare live performances recorded between 1987 and 2007, including three performances from 1992's Phantasmagorical Tour ("Voulez-Vous," "Am I Right?" and "Heart Of Stone"), "Breathe" from 2006's Acoustic Tour and "Oh L'Amour" from 2007's World Tour.
The DVD contains BBC appearances recorded between 1986 and 2005, including performances from Top Of The Pops, Daytime Live and The Tom O'Connor Roadshow. It begins with Erasure's 1986 Top Of The Pops debut "Sometimes," followed by "Ship Of Fools" on Wogan and a six-song performance from 2003's Top of the Pops 2 Special that features a cover of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling."
British-Irish girl group 'The Saturdays' will be releasing a cover of "Just Can't Get Enough" (the Depeche Mode song written by Vince Clarke) as their fourth single.
It will be the official single for 'Comic Relief 2009', with the proceeds being donated to the charity.