"WEIGHT OF THE WORLD" ERASURE (1988)

For October, the Mental Jukebox is dialing it way back to the eighties and going deep. Deep cuts have always been an important element of music listening to me because they’re often the songs that resonate with me most. Deep cuts are usually the ones that the true fans appreciate most. I like my singles and hits, but I love my deep cuts.

Vince Clarke is one of the true elder statesmen of synth pop. A founding member of Depeche Mode who gave us bright synth anthems like “New Life” and “Just Can’t Get Enough”. As the band shifted toward a darker sound, Clarke left and formed Yaz (Yazoo in the UK) with Alison Moyet, penning more classics like “Nobody’s Diary”, “Situation”, “Don’t Go” and “Only You”. But my favorite Clarke era is the first decade of Erasure with Andy Bell – and deep cuts like “Weight of the World” are a big reason why.

The Innocents was a banner album for Erasure, spawning some of their biggest hits – including “A Little Respect” and “Chains Of Love”, while also containing some of the band’s most beloved songs like “Phantom Bride” and “Ship of Fools”. “Weight of the World” didn’t jump out the way some of those songs did, but it has a staying power in its slow tempo groove. The deep cut was always one of my favorite tracks. Vince’s simple, commanding synth bass lines and circus-esque transition lines. Andy’s soulful vocals. A relic of Erasure at the top of their game.

“You hold your head in your hands And the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

"YOU SURROUND ME" ERASURE (1989)

As an eighties kid, synth pop has been pumping in my blood ever since that first day I turned on my MTV. There’s some debate as to who’s considered a synth pop band and who isn’t. For this September Music Twitter challenge – #SynthPopSeptember – I’m focusing more on what’s considered synth pop, not who. The songs I’m featuring on Mental Jukebox this month aren’t solely composed of synthesizers. There may be drums, bass, and dare I say, electric guitars. But each of these songs were picked because the synthesizer is core to its being.

It would be sacrilegious to celebrate the genre of synth pop without uttering these two syllables: Vince Clarke. A pioneer. A journeyman. A musical genius who’s more than content to stay in the background. Any genre would be thrilled to have someone like this. He got Depeche Mode off the ground – and to this day “Just Can’t Get Enough” is a setlist staple more than 40 years after it was released. He went all in with a fast, dance-oriented brand of synth pop, pairing up with Alison Moyet. But my favorite era of Vince Clarke’s career is the first decade of Erasure with Andy Bell.

“You Surround Me” is a prime example of the duo’s ability to slow things down, while still illiciing a strong, unforgettable angular sound. The song is built around Clarke’s synth arrangements, an epic melody, and Bell’s baritone vocals. “You Surround Me” is enveloping. A refreshing departure on an album packed with faster tempo tracks like “Drama!” and “Star” and the mid-tempo anthem “Blue Savannah”. But thematically tied closely together with the shimmery synth sounds of Wild!

“If love wasn't here would we reinvent it?”

"PHANTOM BRIDE" ERASURE (1988)

Electronic albums play a huge role in my fascination with music. For me, synthesizers and drum machines aren’t better or worse than live drums and guitars. They’re just different. They make music much more imaginative for me. I think Nick Rhodes’ synth parts on those early Duran Duran albums were some of my first loves. Shimmery one moment, jarring the next. Rhodes’ keyboard flourishes changed the complexion of every song. This month, I’m featuring my Top 15 electronic albums along with one featured track.

Album: The Innocents (1988)

The second of two albums where I’m featuring the synth virtuoso Vince Clarke. First was the Yaz record Upstairs at Eric’s. I would say that Yaz record was a pioneering effort in many ways. It helped define the genre of synth pop. Erasure’s The Innocents came along much later, a bit past the prime of the 80’s genre. But this album clocks in as my top 7 pick purely for nostalgia reasons. Few albums bring me back to my teenage years as awkwardly and beautifully as this one. We all know “A Little Respect” and “Chains of Love”, but “Phantom Bride” was the go-to track on this album, in my opinion.

I’m not going to get over analytical about the pros and cons of “Phantom Bride” and the entire Innocents album. It was just fun to listen to back then, and it’s fun to listen to today. “Phantom Bride” exemplified that circus-sounding synth world that Clarke created and explored over multiple albums. It was like a three-ring circus act: the synth hooks, electronic drums and Andy Bell’s vocals. The melody here is like confectionary sugar. Clumped together in heaps to be devoured.

“And in her mind she'd drift away. A secret place to steal away.”