ERASURE STORM CHASER EP MUTE, EMI RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 24, 2007 (EUROPE), OCTOBER 2, 2007 (USA) REVIEW: OCTOBER 27, 2007

After two singles from the latest “Light at the End of the World” album, Erasure release the third single, “Storm in a Teacup” as an EP called “Storm Chaser”. What we have here is classic synthpop from a band that has been doing just that during their entire career since the start back in 1985. The sound on the latest album is definitely weaker than that on “Nightbird”, but that was also the best to come from Clarke/Bell in many years. This time around the songs just don’t stuck in your head like a good Erasure pop song should do. It sure works, but to be honest, it’s just a bit uninspiring and I know that they can perform a lot better.

Packed with nine tracks, this EP actually feels like an album, and unfortunately it’s just too long. There’s good stuff on here though, like the two extended versions of “Storm in a Teacup” and “Sucker for Love”. The guest vocals from the legendary Cyndi Lauper add some country feeling to “Early Bird” which works quite nice.

The remixes on the EP are however rather dull and don’t really add anything to the songs. Everything blends into an anonymous mass where nothing stands out. This is a classic example of quantity over quality and it’s sad to see an experienced band like Erasure fall into that trap.

TOBIAS ELIASSON