Union Street (CD - 2006)

The swift follow-up to 2005's well-received NIGHTBIRD, UNION STREET finds Erasure in an unlikely acoustic scenario. Rather than including songs from the aforementioned album or even a round of hits, this 11-track record throws listeners an intriguing curveball by featuring the venerable U.K. duo running through a set of lesser-known tunes. Stripped of their synth-pop veneer, these songs are cast in a wholly new light, with Andy Bell's plaintive voice coming to the fore over gentle, lilting accompaniment. Though some tunes are extremely minimal in their arrangements--"Home," for example, primarily employs acoustic and pedal-steel guitars--the gorgeous "Stay with Me" builds to a spacious sense of majesty with the assistance of a gospel choir. While most Erasure albums evoke the energy of a night of clubbing, UNION STREET perfectly embodies the mellow atmosphere of the next morning. minimize