Nightbird proved to be both critically and commercially successful despite charting no higher than number 27 in UK, thanks to positive reviews by music critics who dubbed it both a "mature masterpiece" and "return to form" - meaning meticulously produced, shimmering three-minute pop songs. Many longtime fans of the band hailed it as a return to the sound and feel of classic Erasure albums like Wonderland and Chorus. Singer Andy Bell's revelation that he was HIV-positive just prior to the album's release shed new meaning on the songs' introspective and sometimes melancholy lyrics.
The album's first single "Breathe" entered the UK Singles Chart at number four - Erasure's highest peak since "Always" hit number four in 1994. Although no singles from the album charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, two of them hit the top ten on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. "Breathe" became Erasure's second number-one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart - their first being "Victim of Love" in 1987.
A massive concert tour accompanied this album which travelled across Europe and the UK as well as North America. The tour, dubbed The Erasure Show, featured the extravagant set designs and costume changes Erasure is known for. The tour wrapped up in June 2005.
Nightbird was Erasure's first studio album not to be issued on vinyl; none of the three singles were released commercially on vinyl, although promotional remix 12"s exist.Nightbird proved to be both critically and commercially successful despite charting no higher than number 27 in UK, thanks to positive reviews by music critics who dubbed it both a "mature masterpiece" and "return to form" - meaning meticulously produced, shimmering three-minute pop songs. Many longtime fans of the band hailed it as a return to the sound and feel of classic Erasure albums like Wonderland and Chorus. Singer Andy Bell's revelation that he was HIV-positive just prior to the album's release shed new meaning on the songs' introspective and sometimes melancholy lyrics.
The album's first single "Breathe" entered the UK Singles Chart at number four - Erasure's highest peak since "Always" hit number four in 1994. Although no singles from the album charted on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, two of them hit the top ten on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart. "Breathe" became Erasure's second number-one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart - their first being "Victim of Love" in 1987.
A massive concert tour accompanied this album which travelled across Europe and the UK as well as North America. The tour, dubbed The Erasure Show, featured the extravagant set designs and costume changes Erasure is known for. The tour wrapped up in June 2005.
Nightbird was Erasure's first studio album not to be issued on vinyl; none of the three singles were released commercially on vinyl, although promotional remix 12"s exist.false2022-12-19 09:20:42Nightbird620052005-01-252005-01-2543ElectronicPopSynth-Pop112233211700097a691c7-3bb7-4654-b343-3206cdb23a3e43b58c98-3779-4b04-9a23-1c95cca3a1451c643b2d-1f78-3e70-80f8-680d31d8b0b3/media/data/media5/Music/Erasure/Nightbird (2005)/folder.jpgErasureAlbumArtistErasureArtistErasureErasureErasure () is an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1984, consisting of lead vocalist and songwriter Andy Bell with songwriter, producer and keyboardist Vince Clarke, previously co-founder of the band Depeche Mode and a member of synth-pop duo Yazoo. From their fourth single, "Sometimes" (1986), Erasure established themselves on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of the most successful acts of the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. From 1986 to 2007, the pair achieved 24 consecutive top-40 entries in the UK singles chart. By 2009, 34 of their 37 chart-eligible singles and EPs had made the UK top 40, including 17 climbing into the top 10. At the 1989 Brit Awards, Erasure won the Brit Award for Best British Group.
Erasure made their debut with the studio album Wonderland in 1986, however it did not perform well chart-wise. With their second release The Circus the following year in 1987 came major success, the album reaching UK number 6 and spawning four top-20 singles. Their third studio album, The Innocents released in 1988, was a number one and was followed the same year by the Christmas EP Crackers International peaking at number 2. The Innocents was the first in a string of albums to place in the top spot, with their next five long-form releases also reaching the pole position of the UK Albums Chart: the albums Wild! (1989) and the Mercury Prize nominated Chorus (1991), the ABBA tribute EP Abba-esque (1992), the compilation Pop! The First 20 Hits (1992), then the studio album I Say I Say I Say (1994).
Erasure's songs from albums of this period include "Oh L'amour", "Sometimes", "Victim of Love", "The Circus", "Ship of Fools", "Chains of Love", "A Little Respect", "Stop!", "Drama!", "Blue Savannah", "Star", "Chorus", "Love to Hate You", "Breath of Life", "Always" and "Run to the Sun".
Overall in their career, Erasure have written over 200 songs and have sold over 28 million albums worldwide.