The joyful exuberance of a hedonistic youth, conveyed by Erasure on Oh L'Amour, Stop and Blue Savannah, was always tinged with melancholy.

On Nightbird, Andy Bell and Vince Clarke have gone the whole hog and delivered a remarkably dark and miserable set, completely to their credit.

Nightbird is hardly Damien Rice, but it's infinitely more substantial and fulfilling than trashy, throwaway pop tunes or covers of other people's songs.

Having contributing considerably to the soundtrack of the Nineties, Erasure update the journey on Here I Go Impossible Again, All This Time Still Falling Out Of Love and I Broke It All In Two: wretched, soul searching angst, which will alienate many. Not commercial, but an essential foil to fully appreciate the eccentric duo.

Updated: 09:07 Thursday, February 10, 2005