Cowboy

by Erasure

Overview

The calmer inner meditations of Erasure behind them, the duo found themselves on Madonna's label in America and released the notably more upbeat Cowboy in 1997. The zeitgeist that the duo perfectly encapsulated in the late '80s had long been left behind, resulting in an album that sounds like it wants to keep the party going when all the guests had long gone home. While Erasure itself could drag here and there, it was still an honestly intriguing combination of new and old for the band, something the pleasant (but little more than that) Cowboy can't claim. At base, the problem is that while the basic Erasure knack of hummable hooks and fine singing remains unchanged, something seems missing -- what made songs like "A Little Respect," "Stop!," and "Chorus" more than enjoyably catchy pop isn't there. Cowboy is amiable but not memorable. Vince Clarke to his credit doggedly resists flat out following current pop trends in the hopes of greater relevance, so there's something to be said for sticking to one's guns. His usual preferred combination of gentler lead synths and rougher bass tones sounds enjoyably supple as well, with perhaps the only concession to late-'90s pop being a greater use of hip-hop beats. Andy Bell's voice as always hits its fine sweet-sounding heights. But beyond a cut or two, very little honestly connects beyond that, sad to say. "In My Arms," released as a single, has an attractive air to it, with a nicely sweeping chorus, but feels a little too relaxed, not as flat out energetic as it could be. ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/1997
Label:	Maverick
UPC:	0093624667728

Tracks

1. Rain
2. Worlds on Fire
3. Reach Out
4. In My Arms
5. Don't Say Your Love Is Killing Me
6. Precious
7. Treasure
8. Boy
9. How Can I Say
10. Save Me Darling
11. Love Affair
12. Magic Moments

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Erasure   Primary Artist
Paul Williams   Vocals (Background)
Tracie Ackerman   Vocals (Background)
Andy Bell   Voices
Andy Caine   Vocals (Background)
Jordan Bailey   Vocals (Background)
Vince Clarke   Multi Instruments
Sam Smith   Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Kevin Reagan   Design
Mark Stent   Mixing
Larimie Garcia   Design
Andy Bell   Composer
Gareth Jones   Producer
Mark "Spike" Stent   Mixing
Luke Gifford   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Burt Bacharach   Composer
George Holt   Engineer
Paul Walton   Mixing Engineer,Assistant Engineer
Hal David   Composer
Vince Clarke   Composer
Neil McLellan   Producer
Darren Tai   Assistant Engineer
Graham Dominy   Assistant Engineer