During the 1980s, Mute was a remarkable Janus of a record label, looking on one side towards the electronic experimentation in releases via Diamanda Galas, Einsturzende Neubauten, NON and Laibach, and on the other to the furthering of synthpop via Erasure and Depeche Mode. This approach will be reflected at the forthcoming Mute Short Circuit Festival at the London Roundhouse, where Erasure will take to the stage alongside The Residents, Laibach, and recent noisy miscreants Liars. Erasure, though, were never mere two-dimensional synth chart toppers – instead, their history is full not only of sublime catchy one-off singles like ‘Who Needs Love Like That?’, ‘Ship Of Fools’ and ‘Love To Hate You’, but terrific albums (especially The Innocents, Wonderland and The Circus, and camp, theatrical stage performances that were a high water mark in 80s pop’s fight against that decade’s conservatism. It’s no surprise, then, that Andy Bell’s Baker’s Dozen selection is a list of very classy pop stretching from post punk (Blondie, Talking Heads, Siouxie & The Banshees), electronic pioneers (The Human League, Japan, Yazoo), including Lene Lovich, Donna Summer, Kirsty MacColl and Kate Bush, before coming up to date with Ladytron and Miss Kittin & The Hacker. Hit the image below to explore Andy Bell’s choices, and his reasons for the selections. For more on Short Circuit and ticket information, visit the Festival website.
Erasure’s Andy Bell Selects 13 Favourite Records
As Erasure gear up for the Mute Short Circuit Festival, Andy Bell picks us his 13 favourite albums
