pop — Write-Up — Cardiff Live

Fans of Erasure will know they never do things by halves, with their first post-pandemic tour being no exception.

The British synth-pop duo, consisting of Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, landed at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Tuesday 12th with their dazzling array of lights and dramatics to glitz-up the Welsh Capital, and they certainly made up for lost time.

Going into the show, I knew my 20-year-old self would likely bring down the average age of the audience, but with the 80’s being my favourite genre, this didn’t faze me in the slightest.

Myself and my boyfriend’s fabulous mother were ready for a dance, and as we surveyed the crowds around us, it looked like everyone else was as-well. My expectation of some dazzling outfits was met, with feather boas, sequins, light-up clothing and jewellery aplenty. We were in good company for a party.

When singer Andy Bell strutted out onto the stage, I think it’s safe to say I wasn’t the only one who had Rupert Bear spring to mind. His striking yellow chequered trousers remarkably resembled the cartoon characters’, although admittedly his bright blue compact corset made the complete look a little different.

His below-the-nipple contraption looked about as comfortable as having a rock for a pillow, but comfort to Bell is likely his last thought when considering his wardrobe. Clarke on the other hand stuck to a more formal grey suit, pairing perfectly with his notorious deadpan expression, broken occasionally with a wry smile often caused by Bell.

Striking lights graced the stage in reflection of the tour’s name: ‘The Neon’, with additional glows and graphics flashing to light up the arena. In true Erasure style, the techno-beats and electronic music were as lively as ever and kept audiences on their feet as they partied the night away to the dance anthems.

Kicking off the 23-song setlist, the band opened with their 1991 hit ‘Chorus’ to set the upbeat tone for the evening. The duo were accompanied on stage by two brilliant backing singers, Valerie and Emma, who appeared in flamboyant fur coats before ditching them for neon dresses to cool down- their vivacious fashion very fitting for the show.

New songs from the album accompanied hits such as ‘Sometimes’, ‘A Little Respect’, and ‘Blue Savannah’ well, and was proof that this was more than a greatest hits tour. The superb new singles cemented Erasure’s status as being as fresh and current now as they were in the 80’s and 90’s.

Ever the showman, Andy made sure to connect with his audience as well as perform for them, engaging in conversation with people in the front row as well as reaching out to the whole arena. The only problem I, and no doubt others, found with this was that often the sound didn’t balance out quite right, and his words were a little lost.

I think we all breathed a sigh of relief on Behalf of Andy, when Vince cut him free from his corset halfway through the show, breaking free from his restraint and opting for a cheeky yellow vest with a monkey on instead. ‘This is the monkey who took a selfie. I have him on a top’, he proudly informed the arena, with the cheeky photo perhaps reflecting his own personality.

A show dazzled with lights, extravagant fashion and pop classics that just kept on coming, what wasn’t to love? A packed Motorpoint saw thousands dancing and singing the night away, loving every minute of the show. It’s safe to say we all enjoyed ourselves that night, and Erasure have still got it.

Review by: Gabriela Page for KCL

Setlist:

1. Chorus

2. Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)

3. Fill Us With Fire

4. Sacred

5. The Circus

6. Who Needs Love Like That

7. Nerves of Steel

8. Blue Savannah

9. Chains of Love

10. Turns the Love to Anger

11. Careful What I Try To Do

12. Sometimes

13. Save Me Darling

14. Shot A Satellite

15. Love to Hate You

16. Love Is a Stranger (Eurythmics cover)

17. Drama!

18. Always

19. Stop!

20. Push me Shove Me

21. Victim of Love

Encore:

22. Oh l’amour

23. A Little Respect

Singer/songwriter Emma Mae has released her second single of 2021, ‘When Paris Calls’, and it’s the summer pop-bop we needed.

Leicester-born Emma has taken a slightly different path from her previous single, ‘Boys in Bands’, switching up the slowed-down, chilled out strumming for a quicker tempo and latin beat to make for a catchy song.

Mae’s penned her lyrics about someone discovering their partner has done the dirty and cheated with a woman named, you guessed it, Paris. Her lyrical brilliance captures both the bitterness and sadness of the affair but portrays it in such a way that you can’t help but chuckle with admiration at the lines, one notably being ‘when Paris calls you run to her, getting over me, under her.’

Before the track’s release, a series of murder-mystery style teasers were released across social media, with fans being left to put the pieces together and figure out the answer to the question ‘who’s calling’? With three suspects named and shamed, Destiny, Summer and Paris, it was ultimately the latter that was on the other end of the telephone, and the winner of the guessing game can now proudly pin an ‘Emma Mae think I’m awesome’ badge to their jacket.

Full of catchy notes, upbeat rhythms and Emma’s gentle, dulcet tones, this buoyant break-up anthem is the perfect song to have blasting in the car on a summer day (or when you’re singing bitterly in front of the mirror over your ex).

You can listen to it here on Spotify!

REVIEW: Corsets, Charisma and Classics- Erasure Had It All

If you require any more information or have any questions about our site's disclaimer, please feel free to contact us by email at infocardifflive@gmail.com