1. Intro: Guess I'm Into Feeling
I suppose this song is not really a song, it's somewhat of an hybrid. Vince & I were struggling a bit with "All is fair in love & war", which was the original version of 'True Love Wars' - that's why the song is a bit confused!
I had a few problems in singing the original lyrics to "All is fair in love & war", 'coz I don't think war is fair at any time. Anyway what happened was Vince came up with an almost live feeling pastoral intro & as naturally happens Gareth & I came up with the totally opposite feeling blistering disco intro. So as befits our Erasure philosophy we got out our trowels & cement & stuck the two together.
2. Rescue Me
This was one of the original Dublin 6, written at The Gresham Hotel on guitar & piano.
I tell you, one of the best cures for a hangover is to write a song. At least you feel like you did something. As this song progressed it got clubbier & clubbier. It was real fun doing all the ad-lib harmonies through the end. There was a real rocking version of this song with lots of rapping & funky vocals that were lost in the mix but hey that's life. By the way, you should know that we were finishing vocals whilst the tracks were being mixed so there was lots of toe tapping & bleary eyes (like all the best album mixes).
3. Sono Luminus
This is probably Vince's favourite & one of my favourite songs. It could be described as a travelling song except Vince & I stop off at the Benedictine Chapel for tea & toast.
Vince sent me a message after we sent him the rough DAT of the vocals. It said "Andy we love the vocals for track 4, we love you generally, love Vincent xxxx" (with one of his funny face monikers). I was very happy about this & the note is still pinned to my cooker at home with a magnetic goldfish in a bowl.
p.s. 'Sono Luminus' is Latin & I believe it means 'sound becomes light'.
4. Fingers & Thumbs (Cold Summer's Day)
This can best be described as traditional 4 on the floor Erasure. It was written chez Vincent & a much cruder demo version is included on the 'Wigstock: The Movie' sound track. This will be the second single release & we had lots of complaints from the less imaginative licensees because it wasn't our first choice (fingers down throats). Happy go lucky love lies lost with a safe sex underlying message. Could you imagine those Abba girls coming out of retirement for this one?!
5. Rock Me Gently
I defy anybody not to get goose bumps when listening to this song. You know that feeling when you make love & you're half asleep & half awake, mmmmm. I would say that this is one of the best songs we've ever written (so modest!) & it is some of (if not the best) work that my little Vincent has ever done. ("Better than Kraftwerk," says Gareth Jones). Hats off to Thomas & George too.
Anyone that has ever had the privilege of meeting or seeing one of Diamanda Galas' shows will know how lucky we are to have her contribute to the album. Her voice shoots off into outer space & weaves in & out of the synth tight-rope like supersonic warrior. (What can I say?) I bet she could f**k me good & proper.
6. Grace
I love it. Everything that is wrong with this world. Ruby & I sound like we were locked up in little wooden cages for this song (like Hansel & Gretel).
7. Stay With Me
Beautiful. Vince is always making these amazing sounding orchestral type tracks like film music without pictures (imagine your own). It's much better than watching naff old cola sponsored (censored) videos.
I said to Gareth that I'm in a really privileged position being the old crooner that I am 'cause working with Vince is the closest thing you can have these days to your own conducted orchestra. Where were you radio?
8. Love The Way You Do So
Oh dear, everybody's gonna think that I'm obsessed with sex at this rate. You should try working with Gareth Jones & not think about it! This is our South Pacific love song waving goodbye to all the boys down on the dock. This was pre nuclear testing I must add. Although I did have a dream once of being on some S.P. beach when the flash went off & another time I was on Primrose Hill. Has anybody else dreamt of & been woken by the bomb?
9. Angel
Talking about the bomb, I was watching "Hiroshima Mon Amour" to the intro of 'Angel' & just as it came to a climax, the bomb dropped & people were being showered with oil & tar & having their skins melted off (Horrible). Sorry to be so morbid but these things are a reality & not just something that you watch on the TV.
People are tortured & murdered every day (mostly women & children) in the name of warfare, progress(???) and technology. That's why it's important to have guardians around like Diamanda Galas, Vincent, Gareth, Janet, & my Paul.
Basically people who care about & love other people. Hope this doesn't sound like a diatribe but this is what most of our songs & music are about. LOVE. XXXXX
10. I Love You
There's just no helping it!
11. A Long Goodbye
Very circus-y. The show is leaving town, time to face the final curtain, you did it your way, I did it my way.