DUO "ERASURE" DECIDES TO REMIND ABOUT THEMSELVES

   The old hit "Love To Hate You" of the band Erasure and another their 17 huge hits are ready to release on CD again. Peak of popularity of this vocal-electronic duo was at the end of 80's and first half of 90's when 20 millions of their albums were sold. One can not say that Andy Bell (vocals) and Vince Clarke (computers, synthesizers) were forgotten in the last ten years - this two men are already the classic of electronic pop. In the beginning of this year they were released the album which is consisting of the compositions of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Peter Gabriel etc. covered by Erasure. But now - their own hits from various years. And Bell told the "7 Days" reporter about life steps, pop-star life and about particular long time interaction inside the duo.

   - Are you going to visit Russia at last after you will release this album?

   - I don't know exactly about tour plans, but I definitely want to visit Russia. I was never been there. I heard something about your country on Malorca where I have a house. Somehow in the bar I got acquainted with russian dancer. But he told very words about Russia, much more about russian vodka. I asked him to teach me some russian words. He tried but he was drunk and me was drunk too so I don't remeber anything. So I not so much know about Russia. But if I will come to, I'll try to find the time to walk all along in Moscow. Or in the evening to seat in the bar, to know new people - I usually do such things in a new cities and countries.

   - We heard nothing from Erasure for a long time. Seems like you have a long vacations, sometimes you are releasing albums of yours and other people's hits but there are not your own new songs.

   - Well, we are not only releasing albums. Last summer we have a couple of shows in Germany and one in Denmark. Anf before we were in tour in USA and UK. We did not release albums from mid 2000 to 2003 but we have very expensive tour in South America and South-East Asia together with David Bowie.

   - Who is your fans today?

   - We breaked the barrier between the ages, so they are the family mixture. Sometimes to our concerts comes childrens, parents and grands - so its the good selection.

   - Your latest album which will be released in october is the collection of the best Erasure hits. Doesn't that mean that you are summing up and going to close the project?

   - No this is not true. We just finished the work on acoustic album in New York. This is the famous Erasure songs in a number of 11 but not in synthesizers as usual but in guitar. Besides that we composed another 5 songs for the new album which we are hoping to finish at the end of the year.

   - How the new "Best Of.." was born? Are you re-recorded your famous songs or its just a collection of the old recordings?

   - Its only our old hits mixed together. They must be a reminding.

   - Before you remind about yourselfs by your old hits you sung other people's songs. Do somebody sung yours?

   - There are four versions of Erasure songs. Japaneses, or not, chineses sung "Love To Hate You" in chinese, this is very funny. And three songs, "A Little Respect", "Phantom Bride" and another one - London performers.

   - There are an older hits on the "Other People's Songs" album. Did you dedicated this album to your parents?

   - Yes, I recorded the songs that they listened at home when I mas a child. They often played them.

   - Do they like your interpretation?

   - I don't know - I'm not often spending time with them. All I can say that my first album that was released in 1986, they liked it. I did not asking about this one. I'm not often seeing my family. I'm not coming there - I'm fearing.

   - Why?!

   - Looks that when I lived in old small town Peterborough on the East England I got something kind of claustrophobia... Generally, I'm an occasional guest in my motherland. Four my sisters and one brother living there. Annie has a husband, a daughter and she is a secretary on a factory. Diane is a partner of our father in his business, she have a childrens and she is abandoned with her boyfriend. Alaine have two childrens and she is not married. Alison have three childrens and she is also not married. My brother is not married too, but he lives with a woman, a teacher, they have two childrens. So as you can see the family is gigantic. I'm felling not so good with them. When I saw them I'm going back being totally crazy.

   - You are living either in London or on Malorca. Where you spend more time?

   - Approximately four months in a year I'm living in Spain. Usually I'm moving there on a month or two. I don't like to be there in summer, it's to hot. Being on Malorca in two weeks I'm starting to miss London because all my friens stayed there. Sometimes they coming to me in Spain. I like to make such meeting on a Christmas and New Year. But the rest time I'm spending in London.

   - What do you do on Malorca? Tending the garden?

   - I'm not tending the garden, I'm too lazy for that. Sometimes I'm just sitting and listening records. I'm making cards also.

   - Photographs?

   - No, I'm drawing postcards like birthday cards and so on. From time to time I'm recording something for myself. I have a small studio at home.

   - Its all known that when you was on Malorca you wanted to record "Other People's Songs" album along without Vince. Why?

   - For my self-assertion. I wanted to people hearing my voice more together with orchestral instruments. So I was thinking about solo project.

   - But anyway you made it under the mark Erasure. Didn't you find the orchestra? Or nobody wanted to play with you?

   - Actually I didn't searching a lot. Talking honestly, I didn't asking somebody. So I found no one. In our with Vince duo all is working and things are doing exclusively thanks to him, you know. He has a plan which is carrying out. All the things turning out fast and effectively. In the time when I was thinking about solo album and orchestra Vince came to me on Malorca. So we again performed as Erasure. I can not abandon him because I'm obliged my career to Vince. He answering for it. Only him may organize all the procees. He is the most delicate man I've ever met. He is fair to all the people. And the main... he is know how to make business.

   - So you are a lazy-bones and Vince is an organizer?

   - Yes, he is a working horse. You can see that when we are touring. Or when we must meet regularly in studio: Vince waking up early in the morning but I'm a sleepy-head. I can not wake up until midday.

   - Anyway you are together for 18 years! You did not learned the organizency and purposefulcy from Vince. Maybe you did know how to make the music on computer?

   - No, I didn't learn that too. But I realize one very principal thing - it's important that the song have an outstanding, strong tune. It must be very special, be on one's own, independently from decorations and then it will live by itself.

   - Describe yourself in a five words...

   - M-mm... Blonde, shy, egoist, sencering, friendly.

   - And Vince?

   - Secretive, dogmatic, persistent, generous and ambitious.

   - Do you ambitious?

   - Yes, I'm, but to some extent. So in that case we appropriate to each other.

   - Where is Vince now?

   - He is in New York with his girl-friend. They got acquainted around five years ago. She worked in New York at the media-company that was linked with us.

   - How often have you see your colleague from Erasure?

   - Two weeks ago I was backed from New York. I was guesting in his flat for three weeks. In october, when the record will be released, Vince comes here in London. I told that sometimes he is coming to me in Spain. In november I hopefully fly to him in New York again. So we are in contact.

  - Can we describe you and Vince as a friends?

   - We are working together. We are respecting each other. We are meeting only for business but that's enough.

   - Was in your life a moment when you decide to become a pop-star?

   - Looks like when I was 17. I liked Blondie and started to bleach my hair like their vocalist. But actually I didn't thinking that music will become my work. I was simly moved to London because my town was too small for me. I was nowhere to go. I came in London not to play the music or to join to some band. Seriously I didn't thinking about that until I was 21. And once joined Erasure.

   - Do you remember your life before Erasure?

   - Vagually. Once moved to London I became homeless. All my luggage was always with me in a big black plastic packet. Usually I phoned round my friends and somebody to invite me to stay at night. Once I went to the girl which is worked in the social institution. She must left the gates unlocked, but I can not opened them so I started climbing. In the most important moment the owner of the house woke up and called the guard. So I was ran away. And then I spent the night in the tube. But that was only one time.

   - London homeless became a pop-star long time ago and his life is drastically changed. At the end of the next year the album with the fresh material will be released. Are you going to top the charts as it was ten years ago?

   - I don't know. Thats impossible to anticipate. M-mm... I don't think so.

   - Maybe thats because you are the lazy-bones? And Vince's efforts are not enough?

   - Perhaps.

Margaritha Novikova

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