Erasure - Hits! - The Very Best Of [2003]

Other highlights of this collection include "Chains of Love", which features Andy and Vince flying around the studio holstered on chains. Taking its inspiration from the video of the Pet Shop Boys' "Go West" from the previous year, Erasure's 1994 single "Run to the Sun" is an ambitious homo-erotic, computer-generated affair seemingly located somewhere in Eastern Europe. In fact, all of the I Say, I Say, I Say videos are shot in foreign locales--the Far East for "Always" and the Mediterranean for "I Love Saturday"). Another classic is the later video "Don't Say Your Love is Killing Me", which features Bell being hauled through various locations on his lounge rug. Despite being renowned for their glitzy live shows, only three of the videos feature material shot on tour ("Oh L'Amour", "In My Arms" and "Rain"). All in all this is an excellent value-for-money compilation for those not too tired by the tried-and-tested Erasure formula.

On the DVD: Erasure--Hits: The Videos plays in Dolby stereo, with some of the later videos being 16:9 format. Disc 2 includes exclusive performance footage, rare videos and tracks performed live on all of Erasure's major tours. Six lengthy promotional documentaries from 2001 to 2003 are included, which feature interviews with the pair. Hidden bonus footage has also been crammed on to the disc. The only downside is the clumsy menus, which are difficult to navigate and are not all that pleasing to the eye. --John Galilee

Remastering for DVD is a different matter altogether. The whole point of DVD is to get the very best from the visuals and sound,
but Mute have made no effort whatsoever to remaster the audio or
film clips for this release. The sound is low and the visuals are
for the most part murkey and dull. The track Sometimes is riddled with scratches on every frame.

The age of the material has nothing to do with it. If that was the case how come recent DVD releases by Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys and Dead Or Alive have clear, crisp video and LOUD, sharp and clear audio?

Sorry, but Mute have made no effort at all to clean the material for this release, and for that reason it's for hard core fans only...


Top quality   October 27, 2003
A. J. Philpott
2 out of 3 found this review helpful

As others have said, this is tops. The videos' range from the weird to the wonderful and all those you have seen will bring backa few memories. There are of course the songs you don't like, and the older stuff is often the best (but that just shows our ages) but in general, it's superb. Great to be able, at last, to have all the decent songs in one place (whereas two hits albums have them all over the place), and the extra's are great. Now I know what they look like in 2003 as well...