An overtly experimental and introspective album, Erasure contains 11 mostly mid-tempo tracks that differed from their past output of shiny, three-minute pop songs. Most tracks clocked in at five minutes or more, several contained long synth interludes, and guest artists included the London Community Gospel Choir and performance artist Diamanda Galás.
Although appreciated for its experimental nature, Erasure marked the beginning of Erasure's slide from the peak of their popularity in the mainstream music world.[citation needed] Coming off four consecutive number-one albums in the UK, this album failed to hit the top 10, and two single releases also missed the UK top ten. After a successful top 20 debut on the Billboard 200 for their previous album I Say I Say I Say, Erasure debuted and peaked at number 82 in the US and generated no Hot 100 singles. In Germany the album also peaked lower than previous albums, at number 87.
In an interview with DJ Ron Slomowicz circa 2006, Erasure were asked for their favourite album from their own catalogue. Bell stated "it's a toss-up between Chorus and the self-titled Erasure album from 1995."[6]
Critical reception
Upon its release, Paul Moody of NME considered Erasure to be "almost more of the same" from the duo, except "there's a darker hue to their electronic meanderings this time around". He felt Clarke was "intent on making [a] serious-minded electronic piece" which, in turn, "makes their more heart-warming indulgences altogether less accessible" and resulted in "neither a ground-breaking slide into ambience or a fan-pleasing stomp over familiar ground". He concluded, "The overall impression is of Clarke spending endless weeks in his studio fully believing himself to be orbiting Ursa Minor while Bell blubs and bellows his way through the tormented pages of his diary whenever he gets the chance."[5]Paul Lester of Melody Maker was negative in his review, calling the album "cheesy" and "a bit flat". He remarked the album was like "a Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber extravaganza set to an electro beat", "soundtrack music for Star Wars 6" and "handbag techno-pop featuring Bell's I-wanna-be-Judy-Garland impressions". He singled out "Stay with Me" as the exception, commenting that "you forget about Bell's grating neo-operatic warble and wonder instead at one of those breathtaking chord sequences Clarke seems to contrive every few years".[7]
Reissues
Subsequent to their acquisition of Erasure's back catalog, and in anticipation of the band's 30th anniversary in 2016, BMG commissioned reissues of all previously released UK editions of Erasure albums up to and including 2007's Light at the End of the World. All titles were pressed and distributed by Play It Again Sam on 180-gram vinyl and shrinkwrapped with a custom anniversary sticker.
In September 2022, Erasure announced the re-release of their self-titled 7th album in a special hardback book edition, with a bonus CD of remixes, released on 18 November 2022 through Mute/BMG records.[8]
