Judging by both the rudimentary sleeve art and the fact that it's being billed as an 'acoustic album', at first glance, Union Street probably won't top many music fans' 'to buy' lists. Indeed, it would probably struggle to scuffle its way into the hearts of even many a well-established Erasure fan. Rest assured, however, that though this is an album glutted with delicate acoustic plucking and heartfelt vocals, there's a gleeful absence of narcissistic stool-roosting and mawkish tortured angst. Despite its low-key presentation, Union Street - a collection of nifty rearrangements of neglected album tracks and b-sides from the past decade - has a heart as big as Messrs. Bell and Clarke's record collection. Gone are the overlapping synths, the kitsch dance-pop and the outlandish production; in come slide guitars, softly thumped percussion and sparse tales of broken hearts. This is Erasure stripped down to the bare essentials; and almost contradictorily, it
uncovers what's most essential about the band to begin with. Proof that Clarke and Bell are never short of a ruse, Union Street largely keeps to the acoustic path, but does occasionally veer slightly off-track. Stay With Me opens almost similarly to Rufus Wainwright's 'Beautiful Child' before plunging into a flute-laden safari-vibe piece; the old-time country sway of How Many Times could be sung on a Nashville troubadour's back porch; while Rock Me Gently's harmonious gospel arrangement suggest it as a candidate for a Sunday soul session.Vaulting nimbly between keys, the rich texture of Andy Bell's croon is totally encompassing and swoonsome. Without the overblown, at times intrusive pomp, his voice finds a new lease; both suitably velvety (the bittersweet farewell to a relationship on Boy and Spiralling) and softly soothing (Blues Away, Tenderest Moments) and even has a touch of the Shirley Bassey operatic at times (Home, Love Affair).Union Street may well be seen as a rehash of obsolete material by some; but really, it's a well-rounded, well-produced and utterly well-crafted assemblage of songs that are simply enjoying their stint in the limelight. Singer-songwhiners, take note.
