Light at the End of the World

People who are dissatisfied with this release have got to be kidding. This bubbly, electronic stuff that is signature Erasure is one of the main reasons Vince Clark left behind the confines of Depeche Mode and the soul-dance pop of Yazoo. Could you imagine Vince going along with the dirge like pretensions of Alison Moyet and Depeche Mode's combined outputs for the past few years? I think not. He had to return to form, even after "experimenting" with live discs and acoustic sets to prove his depth. That's not why we love him or Andy Bell. Much in the same Abba truly excelled when they stuck to form with their brand of pop, so too does Erasure truly shine above all when they embrace the sounds that made them come into existence in the first place. We don't need Erasure to be the Pet Shop Boys (look no further for a wild, all-over-the-place duo that's succumbed to pretension). So what if "Sunday Girl" sounds like "Is This The Way To Amarillo"? Neil Sedaka's "Amarillo" was pure joyous pop and Erasure is pure joyous dance-pop. That track alone is worth the price of admission to this CD. I don't think Vince has come this close to composing songs "musically" so joyous since "Oh L'Amour," "Sometimes," "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me," or his grand initial musical statement with Depeche Mode, "Just Can't Get Enough". To the naysayers...leave those pretensions at the door and just dance around and go along the ride with Vince and Andy once again!

Erasure have crafted their best album in years, possibly since Chorus in 1991. So many reviewers, professional and amateur, have written off this CD as 'classic' Erasure, scolding them for being, well, Erasure. From the opening synth call of Sunday Girl to the lift that is I Don't Know Why, this album is gloriously exciting, well-written and clever. Each song fits together intricately and while Sunday Girl, I Could Fall in Love with You (with its beautiful video) and Storm in a Teacup, first stood out for me, I keep finding new favorites as I continue listening to the CD. There are no throwaway tracks on this CD. In this age of random-play iPods, it is seldom that I listen to complete CDs in order anymore. Being able to have thousands of songs at one's disposal can make great music disappear into the electronic shuffle. This CD, however, has captured my attention in a way that no other recent pop releases have, whether by Erasure (or Andy Bell) or other artists (Pet Shop Boys, Kelly Clarkson). I will be listening to the CD for a long time. It defines Erasure today, and any obvious nods to their past sound only serve to prove that their sound is strong and enduring, unlike the "top" music of today, which I am very grateful they didn't try to emulate (hello, Robbie Williams and Madonna) just to go to the top of the charts.

This album is awesome! I love the fact that it has extra songs and right now it is one of my absolute favorite albums of erasure! There are so many beautiful songs on here but my absolute favorite is Glass Angel! The two extra songs that are added on at the end are also amazing and to me they are new songs because I never heard them before but I love them too.

I've been a fan of Erasure for nearly twenty years and I give them credit for trying different musical approaches in albums like Loveboat and Union Street, but Light at the End of the World is the approach I like. It doesn't break any new ground. They are simply doing what they do best. Well written electronic pop with solid rhythm and catchy melodies. It's in the mold of what they were doing in the '90s and it's currently in heavy rotation on my CD player. I dock it a star because the overall production quality doesn't sound quite as crisp as some past efforts, but it's not a fatal flaw. I'm just picky about that sort of thing. If you are familiar with them, like their music and haven't heard this, I would highly recommend picking it up. You won't be disappointed.

It's so nice to be in love with an Erasure album again, which hasn't happened on a truly magnificent scale since 'Erasure' and 'I say'. Somehow Andy and Vince manage to create an uptempo, emotionally charged theme for this album (rather like 'I say') without the melancholy of 'Nightbird' or grand experimentalism of 'Erasure'. In more recent work, Andy's voice has taken on a lovely mature, deeper note and that is wonderfully evident on 'Light at the end of the world'. Having created such a solid and winning formula, I cannot see any reason to change just for the sake of it. Critics talk of the need to move the 'Erasure' project in a new, more modern direction - I for one, feel entirely content and blessed to have it exactly where it belongs - and this album validates it so beautifully.

Erasure - love this great synth-pop band. I thought I was only going to be impressed with track 2 on this album - but lo & behold - this albmu is excellent. I've always been a fan ever since they began 20+ years ago. I don't have all of their albums, but that will soon change. I've recently begun exercising & Erasure makes the time fly by. I've only had this album for about 1 week & I know almost all of the songs by heart. Great to listen too while I'm at work. Luckily, I work from home & am able to listen to my music as loud as I like (darn when those clients call in). I'm no expert when it comes to great voices, but I love Andy Bell's range. I highly recommend this album.

Light at the End of the WOrld is a very, very admirable effort from the Erasure boys. It is very much in the vein of some of their earlier efforts and more upbeat and dancey than recent offerings from the kings (queens?) of europop.THe single, I could Fall in Love is just stunning in its overproduced, electronic whirlwhind sound and feel. YOu can't sit still when it plays. Several other tracks have "potential hit" markend on them as well...Sunday Girl for instance.If you loved older Erasure albums, but have been bored by the newer, softer sounds, this is your chance to have some fun with the boys Clarke and Bell once again.

I think D.R.J Suttle summed this album up in his review.Andy Bell just gets better and better, great voice and fantastic music from Vince as usual. Loved them all my life !!Jean in Somerset

A great album. There are many good songs. Can hear it again and again

this isn't the best erasure album, but considering there output over almost thirty years it deserves more than an ok rating.

An Erasure album

Bought for my wife to play in the car. She is an Erasure fan.