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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2005)
march 18.2005 • just out 3g MUSIC Nightbird In & out Erasure • Mute hen pondering the most dependable Erasure’s Andy Bell bravely comes out as poz, duos of all time, who comes to mind? while Moby voluntarily goes in the cloz Elton John and Bernie Taupin? Batman and Robin perhaps? Surely rum and Coke must figure into the equation. Andy Bell and Vince Clarke, better known as Erasure, can also stake their claim as two who rarely fail to please. Releasing albums of sounds from his great musical beauty and emotional uplift every cou wall of keyboards. ple of years since 1986s Wonderland, Erasure Bell recently has dropped another gem, Nightbird, as well as a revealed that he has bombshell that makes its new work a shade been HIV-positive since more bittersweet. 1998. He is taking com Erasure’s music past and present follows The bination therapy and Beatles’ motto, “All You Need Is Love.” Most claims to feel better of its wistful songs are about falling in and out than ever while prepar of love (and the countless stages in between), ing to embark on a and some of their best has the L-word in rhe world tour that will hit title: “Victim of Love,” “Chains of Love,” U.S. soil in April. “Love to Hate You” and “Oh L’Amour.” Nightbird doesn’t Erasure’s release of a covers album and a break any new ground, greatest hits collection in 2003 did not bode but it doesn’t need to. In fact, it’s proof positive vegan who hated Eminem, and his Area: One well for its future. While Nightbird does not that you needn’t fix what isn’t broken. Music Festival was spectacular, bringing togeth soar quite as high as 1988’s The Innocents, —Jim Thompson er a diverse lineup under one sky during the 1991 ’s Chorus or 1997’s Cowboy—high water summer of 2001. (Opening acts included Out- marks all—it does at least put to rest concerns kast and the freshly reunited New Order, fea Hotel about its ability to keep churning out the most turing guest guitarist Billy Corgan.) human electronic music available. Moby • V2 But then he came down with the Kevin Bell’s vocals sound as clear and sumptuous Spacey Syndrome. While promoting his 1999 as ever on “1’11 Be There,” “All This Time Still have a love-hate relationship with Moby. album Play— featuring the hit singles “Porce Falling Out of Love,” “Sweet Surrender” and He initially caught my ear with a string of lain” and “Southside”—he came out of the the majestically multitracked first single, lively techno tracks: 1994’s “Feeling So closet, telling Metro, “I’m neither straight nor “Breathe.” Clarke, onetime songwriter for Yaz Real,” 1996’s “Every Time You Touch Me” and gay; I’m pretty much bisexual.” and Depeche Mode, continues to coax comple 1997’s “James Bond Theme” from Tomorrow Three years later, after spending too much mentary, if sometimes slightly self-plagiaristic, Never Dies. 1 admired that he was a progressive time hanging out with the popular kids, rhe W I nerd was singing a different tune on his Web site: “I’ve decided that once every few months I will answer the ‘Is Moby gay, bi or straight etc.' question. But I will answer in the most enter taining way that 1 can. For the tmth (I’m straight) is pretty tedious.” Pity. Just like Mr. Spacey, Mr. Dick’s talent seemed to vanish along with his queer orientation. His next album, 2002’s 18, was an embar rassing carbon copy of Play, and his weak performance at Area: Two (he insisted on headlining despite the presence of David Bowie) revealed that he had run out of ideas. Moby makes up some lost ground on his new CD by attempt ing a more organic sound; whereas past records have relied heavily on samples, this one is sample-free. The disco hooks are back, too, par ticularly on the pulsating “Very.” Still, Moby needs to check his ego at the front desk of this Hotel. He ruins otherwise decent songs (“Beautiful” and “Slipping Away”) by repeating one line ad nauseam (“Look at us we’re beautiful” and “Hold onto people they’re slipping away”), and the release features a dull, unnecessary second disc of allegedly “ambient” music. He also should apologize to ex-tourmates New Order for his drippy remake of “Tempta tion.” At least the singer, Laura Dawn, is the cultural director of MoveC9n.org, so you can’t be too hard on the guy. —Jim Radosta jD McMENAMlN BOUT! QU E " RED DRESS PARTY ATTIRE AVAILABLE . 1332 W BURNSIDE, PORTLAND, OREGON 21 & OVER* TICKETMASTER OUTLETS (Open, accepting environmentJor a(t ddfyyoinhnent mopjiing also avaiCatte for your confort and convenience dyizex to fit 4-26 728 NORTHWEST 23RD AVENUE PORTLAND. OREGON 97210 TEL. 503.295.2885 SATURDAY, MARCH 26 g O i I ^1 O Learn ...................................... ............ —— to WMMOL j __________ / / / ▼ ▼ ▼ Dance ▼ v Cha Cha Rumba J Country Swing Waltz W Foxtrot 503-236-5129 www.outdancing.info pvery woman's J-Jealth 50I N Graham #445 • Portland Or 97227 Gynecological Surgery and Obstetrics Kimberly Suriano, M.D. Philippa Ribbink.M.D. Elizabeth Newhall. M.D. Brenda Kehoe, M.D. Sally Holtzman, M.D. Laurel Lee.C.N.M. 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