Erasure - Nerves of Steel

Stream Nerves of Steel here (Spotify)
Pre-order The Neon (out August 21st) here (Lexer)
Read my articles linked to The Neon here

Erasure's 18th (!!) studio album, The Neon, is already proving to be an exhilarating ride. For me, it seems to most mirror the campaign surrounding The Chorus album in 1991. That album also had two singles which preceded its release (Chorus and Love To Hate You) as has The Neon thanks to decadent new single, Nerves of Steel. Sure, it is the modern way that we had a teaser track in-between (Shot A Satellite) but Andy and Vince have confirmed that this latest release is the official follow up to Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling). Musically, it does also take me back to the sound of Chorus - an album full of radiant electronica that didn't diminish the fact that the duo are actually rather brilliant raconteurs. They know how to tell a story in marvellously melodic style. Here they convey the heady rush of the first throes of love - where every look makes you feel dizzy, every touch is electric. The lyrics tap into the memories we all have but just aren't eloquent enough to say in quite the same way. The pulsing percussion mirrors the beating heart of romantics everywhere, while the luxurious synth riff is the musical equivalent of bouncing off cloud nine. Andy sounds in fine fettle, clearly having the time of his life singing this song. It's not just a love letter to love, it is a love letter to the genre of pop - the type that makes you want to fling your arms in the air and twirl along with gay abandon.

Top 25 songs of the week:

25 ~ Bright Light Bright Light, Sensation
24 ~ Erasure, Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)
23 ~ Erasure, Nerves of Steel (NE)
22 ~ Go-Go's, Club Zero (NE)
21 ~ Walk The Moon, Lost In The Wild (NE)
20 ~ Christopher, Leap of Faith
19 ~ Candy Apple Blue, Turn On The Night
18 ~ Magnus Carlsson, My Freedom
17 ~ Galantis ft Cathy Dennis, Steel
16 ~ The Killers, Fire In The Bone
15 ~ Alanis Morrisette, Diagnosis
14 ~ Maroon 5, Nobody's Love
13 ~ Johnny Hates Jazz, Spirit of Love
12 ~ Ava Max, Who's Laughing Now
11 ~ Dua Lipa, Levitating (Blessed Madonna Remix)
10 ~ Jason Mraz, Wise Woman
09 ~ The Fizz, Storm
08 ~ Limahl, Still in Love
07 ~ Sean Smith, Summertime
06 ~ Tyler Glen, Somebody To Tell Me
05 ~ Fly By Midnight ft Cara Mae, Lost Without You
04 ~ Sabrina Carpenter, Let Me Move You
03 ~ Same Difference, One Love One Life
02 ~ Kylie Minogue, Say Something
01 ~ McFly, Happiness (2 weeks)