ERASURE’S EDGE

“WONDERLAND.” Erasure. Sire.

Vince Clarke, formerly of Depeche Mode, Yazoo and the Assembly, has acquired the bad habit of changing partners without making alterations in his music. As one-half of Erasure, Clarke continues to produce articulated, synth-pop dance music that was refreshing several years ago but has now grown very stale. Helping him out this time is newcomer Andy Bell, who does a good impersonation of Alison Moyet (Clarke’s partner in Yazoo). Bell carries the same deep tones and flexible vocal range as Moyet, but lacks her soulful provocativeness, resulting in an album that not only lacks innovation but much needed life.