Erasure's 18th studio album, The Neon, is released via Mute Records. "The Neon" is a place that lives in the imagination, that we all put in the real world. It could be a night club, a shop, a city, a cafe, a country, a bedroom, a restaurant, any place at all. It’s a place of possibility in warm, glowing light and this is music that takes you there...

I have to be honest and admit that I didn't know Erasure were still around. When this album arrived in the office I immediately thought it was another '80s band trying to capitalise on their past; that they had reformed to market their music to those that nostalgically remembered '80s school discos, their first love etc. So, I was surprised to discover that The Neon was their 18th studio album, and they've been releasing LPs with new material every few years.

It's a strange mix of songs as some ('Fallen Angel') are certainly single quality, while others sound a little cringe worthy ('Tower of Love'). Although, to be fair it's only the lyrics that let this song does.

'Fallen Angel', which is probably the one standout track on the album, has some bizarre lyrics. "Walk up a down escalator" is apparently one of the things that "gives me love". I can think of a million and one thing that I'd put above that... but still, each to their own. Unless "Fallen Angel" refers to Andy Bell and "walk up a down escalator" refers to his physiotherapy after having had both hips replaced after being diagnosed with avascular necrosis.

The 10 songs (37 min, 12 sec) certainly feel like they run the gamut of synthpop over the decades. At times it feels fresh and modern (well, as modern as synthpop can be), this is especially true of songs like 'Careful What I Try to Do'. Other tracks, like 'Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)' sound like Erasure back in their '80s heyday.

7

Nick Smithson