Erasure

Erasure Live! The Tank, the Swan, and the Balloon (Mute)

This fanciful concert, shot at Manchester’s Apollo in 1992, weds Erasure’s lush, disco-based synth-pop to elaborate staging akin to PBS’ Great Performances and Andrew Lloyd Webber; especially amusing is programming genius Vince Clarke in a kiosklike structure that’s a technophile’s wet dream. Strapping vocalist Andy Bell owns the stage, whether on the four-song ABBA tribute – Clarke trying to keep up with the choreography is unintentionally hilarious – or the duo’s standards “Oh L’Amour,” “Chorus,” and “Blue Savannah.” A doc on bringing The Tank, the Swan, and the Balloon to life carries disc two.

* * *

This article appears in December 24 • 2004.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US