Erasure's Andy Bell :: enjoying "Tomorrow's World"

There's a lot of history and brilliant observation in the music of Erasure. It's been over two decades since the U.K. duo unleashed a unique brand of Electro-Pop onto the horizon of the ears and hearts of a distinct group of music lovers, across the globe. Lead singer, Andy Bell was one of the very first to not "give a damn" regarding his homosexuality. With early and phenomenal hit songs such as "Oh l'Amour," "Chains of Love," or "A Little Respect," Bell and the magnificent styling's of "synth" provided by Vince Clarke spoke for a generation of gay men. Their sound had the inside track on the emotional rewards and turmoil of the listeners at the time.

25-years later and now marking the release of their 14th collaboration called "Tomorrow's World," there is a new and strident step in the music created. The sounds have a renewed energy which possibly surpasses all the hidden angst of their previous work. Now a godfather to Vince's son, "Oscar," Bell is enjoying all of the passion of the new release. Erasures just finished their U.S. tour and now are touring all parts of the U.K. presenting their everlasting hits and the new material of "Tomorrow's World." This album also sparks the talents of new U.K. singer sensation and producer, Frankmusik.

Collaborating with Frankmusik

EDGE: How did the collaboration with Frankmusik come about for this record?

Andy Bell: I think it just happened really. In the first place, he was really championed by the fans. He was on a list of three potential producers. He was my instinctive choice. The other ones dropped off and I was really glad that he was the one we ended up working with.

Also, he's a fan of Vince's work and he loves working with synthesizers. Also, his mom was an Erasure fan... (Laughter) so that helps.

EDGE: One of the songs on "Tomorrow's World is a soulful stand-out track called "You've Got to Save Me Right Now." Will you tell me about writing this song?

Andy Bell: That was... [Andy begins to sing] "You've got to save me right now"... It was going to be the original first single. We thought it was quite different from what we had written before. It was written in New York with Vince and me on guitar, or maybe even piano on that one. It was one of the ones that were less unhinged in the production and one of the original sounding songs. We haven't done gospel songs very often but that was really just about the breakdown of a relationship.

It's about really referring it to yourself and really finding yourself and thinking, "I'm better than this. I don't really need this." That's it really.

EDGE: Yeah, it's beautiful.

Andy Bell: Thank you.

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Watch this short film about Erasure's new CD "Tomorrow's World":

Inspired by Marilyn

EDGE: Another track on the CD, "A Whole Lot of Love Run Riot" is also really excellent. It's like you are singing of the disparity of self-esteem and of some of Hollywood's tragedies.

Andy Bell: Yeah.

EDGE: Were there any film stars who came to mind that motivated this "cautionary tale" of song?

Andy Bell: Marilyn (Monroe) is always in my mind. She's always in the back of my mind. Also, (Princess) Diana, I correlate the two. Diana was our "Marilyn" really. I think if you believe in the thing of when a nation becomes hypnotized, I think that's the time that it happened in the U.K. It seems like it is so tragic where and it's the same with Amy Winehouse, how somebody can be more valuable... dead than alive. I think it is real indicative of our commercial society.

EDGE: Definitely. How is the tour going? I'm sure it's packed houses and lots of applause, I'm sure.

Andy Bell: The tour is going fantastic! Really brilliant, often you get depressed at times because you're away from home but my energy... I can't believe it, it's been very high. I think we're riding on the crest of a wave. My voice is stronger than it's ever been and I love doing the new material. You can really feel a current in the audiences of how much society has changed.

All about celebrity

EDGE: That's a wonderful thing. Finally, I have to ask you about the song, "Then I Go Twisting." It's the only song where there is the tone of a bored sophisticate participating in the never-ending "club" scene. It's kind of the darkest piece on "Tomorrow's World."

Andy Bell: That's really about when I was living in a seaside town in the U.K. which is in the south of England. It was really very bleak in the winter.

It's very much like a lot of towns in the U.K. There's really not much for the young kids to do. Most people go out on the weekends and get like, "hammered" and end up in fights and end up fighting each other.

It's really just about how radio and TV has become so homogenized. It's all celebrities. People are fed the same stuff over and over again. It's no wonder, they go crazy.

EDGE: All right Andy.

Andy Bell: Thank you very much. Bye.

Erasure is on tour in Europe. Their latest CD "Tomorrow's World" is currently available at Amazon or from the the Erasure website.