March 2, 2008
Mr. Clarke had left the the boys at Depeche Mode and partnered with a chubby, throaty, blues singer. Alison Moyet, hello. The recipe of Yaz (Yazoo everywhere but the USA) was simple: pop music, electronic melodies, soulful voice, yearning and more yearning. Clarke's music is taken from disco, all synthesizers and throbbing beats. But where disco was celebratory, and to some extent party/sex music, techno-pop was the white, art-fag's take at electronic music. It broods sometimes.
The myth of Yaz goes like this. Two elements (one Clarke and one Moyet) collide and make two brilliant, very brilliant albums. Break up occurs before the second album even drops. Forever they are techno-pop's "what ifs." What if they stayed together? We'd never have Erasure. Additionally, Moyet's career, though not as consistent as Andy and Vince, has had several spots of perfection: "Love Resurrection," "It Won't Be Long," or "Whispering Her Name?" So we did alright.
Mute Records is releasing In Your Room, a 4 disc boxed set with the two albums (Upstairs At Eric's & You And Me Both) remastered and two additional discs with remixes and b-sides in May. Like that was not enough. The two have mended their differences and are embarking on a tour. On sale already in Europe, North America has just been announced. Dates to follow soon.
I am overwhelmed. I am in disbelief. And I think I'll be flying to California to see the LA show as well as here in NYC.
Can't stop now, don't you know I aint never gonna let you go.
