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Rating: Sometimes even a clear and obvious reversal can have its appeal and a valid reason for being. More often than not, it happens that upon reaching a certain point and a certain fame, an artist decides to change direction, with more or less good outcomes; the fans whine, the record company grumbles, the radio stations stop playing their music, and in the end, the artist goes back in a flourish of proclamations of "rebirth." For Erasure, it didn't happen exactly like that. The search for a more elegant and (relatively) less garrulous sound began with "Chorus," probably their most successful album, and was then perfected with its immediate successors. The drop in sales between "Chorus" and "I Say, I Say, I Say" is certainly not due to any radical change and not even to a decline in inspiration since the 1994 album is of excellent quality. Rather, it is due to the usual and easily understood reasons that, frankly, I'm tired of mentioning for the umpteenth time. A special mention goes to "Erasure" of '95 with its long, atmospheric, and less radio-friendly ballads that push the style developed in previous years to the extreme (without, however, overturning it), maintaining an immediately recognizable feel and completing a gradual journey of growth and maturity.
As I see it, by that point, Erasure didn't have much to lose by continuing in this direction: the phase of great commercial splendor was behind them, and they knew it, especially the more seasoned Vince Clarke. Winning a large number of new fans among the new generations was a nearly impossible feat, but on the other hand, they could count on a solid fanbase built over the years, which largely appreciated this "alternative" shift. Apparently, "Erasure" is considered a high-end, uniquely designed piece intended to remain a one-off, the closure of a cycle rather than a starting point, and it's an entirely respectable choice that demonstrates humility and self-awareness, especially given the consistency and seriousness with which Andy and Vince have faced (and are still facing) their "ebb" phase, which officially begins with this "Cowboy."
Two years after their artistic peak, Erasure returns to offer fresh, pleasant, and carefree synth-pop, and they do it with a truly well-crafted album: simple, straightforward, absolutely unpretentious, with decidedly inspired and catchy melodies, excellent and consistent quality, and a more streamlined sound compared to albums like "The Innocents" and "Wild!", in line with the times, though unmistakably personal. "Cowboy" conveys enthusiasm and joy of life in every single note, in lively and sparkling tracks like "Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me", "Have Me Darling", and "Rain", as well as with calmer and more balanced midtempos that, contrary to what one might think, form the backbone of the album, particularly "Worlds On Fire", "In My Arms", "How Can I Say", and the pseudo-darkened "Treasure".
Two excellent ballads like "Boy" and "Love Affair", perfectly integrated into the context, complete an absolutely perfect album of its kind, a pleasant and entertaining listen that always manages to bring a smile. Simple and intelligent pop, and ultimately the involution, if we want to call it that, is clear and evident only in relation to "Erasure," an album that is somewhat in its own history, much less so with the previous record releases. In a way, "Cowboy" is almost a younger brother of "I Say, I Say, I Say," more carefree and informal but with the same unmistakable style; it is a great Erasure album with all the guarantees and certainties of the case, and that's enough to describe it effectively.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Rain (04:10)
What is there to do? Only rain
Falling down from the sky
Only me and you fair and plain
Nothing lost and nothing gained
Only the love nothin more nothing
less comes between us
Tempretures rising my passion
is burning inside
My world in lines saving all as one
A love that no-one can deny
My one true light same for everyone
A love I dare you to defy
Only Rain
I once settled for less, but no regrets
Seeing myself in your own reflection
(seeing myself in your reflection)
Something in your eyes, that tells me why
I'm a fool for your own affection
Only the love nothing more nothing less
comes between us
Tempretures rising my passion
is burning inside
My world in lines saving all as one
A love that no-one can deny
(only Rain)
My one true light same for everyone
A love we dare you to defy
Only Rain
You are my, My one true
My world in lines
you are my, My one true
My world in lines
My world in lines saving all as one
The love wich no-one can deny
My one true light same for everyone
A love we dare you to defy
Only Rain
My world in lines saving all is one
A love we dare you to defy
Only Rain
02 Worlds on Fire (03:37)
Across the sea, the sea of love
and when it's dark i rise above
move slowly through the quiet air
i hear your voice, it takes me there
call my name aloud and i'll be there for you
there is no end to all the things that i would do
CHORUS
stop your crying and dry up your endless tears
don't you know you've got the key, love sets you free
worlds on fire, full of pain and endless fear
don't you know , open your eyes, love sets you free
i hold you tight, my mind is clear
true love in sight, hurt desappears
we are space, a lonely race
a speck of dust upon the face
you are magnificent, and i am here for you
there is no end to all the things that i would do
CHORUS
stop your crying and dry up your endless tears
don't you know, you've got the key, love sets you free
worlds on fire, full of pain and endless fear
don't you know, open your eyes, love sets you free
stop your crying and dry up your endless tears
don't you know, you've got the key, love sets you free
worlds on fire, full of pain and endless fear
don't you know, open your eyes, love sets you free
03 Reach Out (03:47)
Don't walk away
I need you more than words can say
I feel for you
This everlasting flame
My everlasting flame
I will wash away your tears
Through the pain and through the sorrow
Better days are still to come
If you would only turn around and
Reach out and touch me
Reach out and hold me
Reach out and touch me
You feel the rain
I feel the tear drops run down my face
You hide your fear
In everlasting shame
My everlasting flame
We have wasted so much time
So your saying now its over
Better days are still to come
Don't turn your back on me now darling
Reach out and touch me (reach out and touch me)
Reach out and hold me (reach out and hold me)
Reach out and touch me (reach out and touch me)
I will wash away your tears
Through the pain and through the sorrow
Better days are still to come (better days)
If you would only turn around and
Reach out and touch me (reach out and touch me)
Reach out and hold me (reach out and hold me)
Reach out and touch me (reach out and touch me)
Dont' walk away from me now darling
I need you now much more than ever
Don't you walk away from me now darling
04 In My Arms (03:28)
The deal is on the rise again.
The ship comes into shore.
They've been away to somewhere,
but life goes on no less.
Through the foreign oceans,
underneath the seas.
And walls come tumbling down;
we'll be forever calm.
And you'll be here in my arms,
I'll keep you away from harm.
I thought about you twice just then;
you get me everytime.
Keeps coming out of nowhere;
it cannot be defined.
Your colors are magnificent:
from magenta to bright blue.
And walls come tumbling down;
we'll be forever calm.
And you'll be here in my arms,
I'll keep you away from harm.
And walls come tumbling down;
we'll be forever calm.
And you'll be here in my arms,
I'll keep you away from harm.
07 Treasure (03:04)
I'm coming in, got the wood stove on
at the end of a treasured day
take off my hat and shoes
and i lay me down
lives been lost and fortunes won
a test of the will to survive
see where the shadow falls
and you stake your claim
CHORUS
I dream of trees and roads
i roam across the hills
the sky is big, the deepest blue,
the clouds like smoky trains
News coming in , goes nation wide
not a grain of truth to be heard
lie to an ancient tribe, in their mother tongue
wreaking havoc and wrecking lives
like a ball and chain to the skull
rise see the eagle fly
spirit can't be broken
I dream of trees and roads
i roam across the hills
the sky is big, the deepest blue,
the clouds like smoky trains
Bridge
I dream of trees and roads
i roam across the hills
the sky is big, the deepest blue,
the clouds like smoky trains
08 Boy (03:41)
Love you boy, till i fall
the child in me again, he plays the fool
Cry for joy, amen
for after all, it's only life
and the way you stir your coffee, like an angel in the morning
still you dare to change your mind
you'll be sorry when it's over
when you've had your taste of freedom
don't come crying on my shoulder
Save your tears, don't mean much
is the guilty party me? i don't think so
and it, it's no bed of roses lying here
tossing and turning
still you dare to change your mind
you'll be sorry when it's over
when you've had your taste of freedom
don't come crying on my shoulder
and these, these years of love and giving surely
must be something to you
10 Save Me Darling (04:01)
Why should it matter how i feel?
This old romantic down at heel
Then again if i'd known the outcome sure you'd win
Ellusion shattered made them real
A night of magic fate is sealed
ran a mock, and you knocked my tiny world for six
It wouldn't have made the slightest blindest bit of difference
All together now let's hear you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
I feel it deep down deep inside
can-not belive wer'e still alive
that is good coz I did not mean you harm my love
We took a shot at mascarade
Came crashing down on love's parade
We where young, where so full of teen emotion then
We couldn't have made the slightest blindest bit of difference
All together now lets hear you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
All together now lets hear you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
We couldn't have made the slightest blindest bit of difference
All together now lets hear you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
All together now lets hear you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
We couldn't have made the slightest blindest bit of difference
I'm all over save me darling
All together now lets see you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
All together now lets see you pray
Make it better now and savour the day
I'm all over save me darling
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