The Neon (album)

The Neon is the eighteenth studio album by English synth-pop duo Erasure, released on 21 August 2020 by Mute Records.^[6] The album debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart with 8,394 copies sold in its first week.^[7]

The Neon
Studio album by Erasure
Released	21 August 2020
Recorded	2019
Studio	Maze (Atlanta)^[1]
Genre	Electropop^[2]^[3] new wave^[4]^[5]
Length	37:09
Label	Mute
Producer	Erasure
Erasure chronology
World Be Gone (2017) The Neon (2020) Day-Glo (Based on a True Story) (2022)
Singles from The Neon
"Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)" Released: 4 June 2020 "Nerves of Steel" Released: 11 August 2020 "Fallen Angel" Released: 22 October 2020

On 30 July 2021, Erasure released a companion remix album titled The Neon Remixed, a double disc of remixes by Octo Octa, Paul Humphreys, Gareth Jones and others. A new single was also contained within the album titled "Secrets". The album was released on CD and a limited-edition coloured vinyl.^[8]

Background

The Neon was released on 21 August 2020 by Mute Records and is self-produced.^[9]

The album was recorded in Atlanta and mixed in London.^[10] The band has stated that they tried to return to their original sounds. Clarke used some of his older synths and Bell described the new album as "going back to the beginning".^[11]

The album cover was created by Paul A. Taylor.^[12] Bell said of the cover: "I love the effect of an old stone wall with a neon sign on it. To me, that always looks like the clashing of antiquity and modern-day."^[13]

The lead single "Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)" received its UK premiere on BBC Radio 2's The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.^[14] "Fallen Angel" was released on 22 October 2020 as the album's third official single and debuted at number six on the UK Physical Singles Chart.^[15]

The band has stated that they usually record 10 songs for each album, but this time around they recorded many more and the record company picked the best. The remaining will be released at some point.^[16]

The album did not chart in the Billboard 200, but peaked at number 22 in the Billboard Current Album Sales chart and number 7 on the Billboard Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart.^[17]

Reception

The album has received generally positive reviews.^[18]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)"	3:45
2.	"Nerves of Steel"	4:13
3.	"Fallen Angel"	3:50
4.	"No Point in Tripping"	3:49
5.	"Shot a Satellite"	3:40
6.	"Tower of Love"	3:42
7.	"Diamond Lies"	3:07
8.	"New Horizons"	3:06
9.	"Careful What I Try to Do"	3:25
10.	"Kid You're Not Alone"	4:32

The Neon Remixed

The Neon Remixed is a two-disc set of remixes from The Neon, released on 30 July 2021 by Mute Records. In addition to remixes, it also includes the single "Secrets". It debuted at number 33 on the UK Albums Chart, selling 2,255 units in its first week.^[19]

Disc one

All tracks are written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Secrets"	3:48
2.	"Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)" (Hi-Fi Sean Remix)	6:29
3.	"Nerves of Steel" (Andy Bell & Gareth Jones Sapphire and Steel Mix)	8:45
4.	"Fallen Angel" (Saint Remix)	5:45
5.	"No Point in Tripping" (John 'J-C' Carr & Bill Coleman 808 Beach Extended Remix)	6:07
6.	"Shot a Satellite" (GRN Extended Remix)	4:42
7.	"Tower of Love" (BSB's Stella Polaris Remix)	8:35
8.	"Diamond Lies" (Armageddon Turk Extended Remix)	4;00
9.	"New Horizons" (Matt Pop Extended Remix)	4:12
10.	"Careful What I Try to Do" (Brixxtone Extended Remix)	4:35
11.	"Kid You're Not Alone" (Theo Kottis Remix)	5:31

Disc two

All tracks are written by Andy Bell and Vince Clarke

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Secrets" (Kim Ann Foxman's Heaven Mix)	5:56
2.	"No Point in Tripping" (Can Love Be Synth Remix)	6:21
3.	"Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling)" (Hi-Fi Sean Dub)	5:43
4.	"Careful What I Try to Do" (Brixxtone Synthwave Dub)	4;39
5.	"Nerves of Steel" (Gareth Jones Electrogenetic Terabyte of Love Mix)	8:22
6.	"Kid You're Not Alone" (Paul Humphreys Remix)	5:18
7.	"Secrets" (Octo Octa's Psychedelic Visions Disco Dub)	14:09

Charts

Chart performance for The Neon

Chart (2020)	Peak position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[20]	49
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)^[21]	85
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[22]	11
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[23]	2
UK Albums (OCC)^[24]	4
UK Independent Albums (OCC)^[25]	1
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)^[26]	25
US Top Current Album Sales (Billboard)^[27]	22
US Top Dance/Electronic Albums (Billboard)^[28]	7

Chart performance for The Neon Remixed

Chart (2021)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)^[29]	33
UK Dance Albums (OCC)^[30]	3
UK Independent Albums (OCC)^[31]	4

References

1. Moayeri, Lily (20 August 2020). "Erasure on New LP The Neon, Why They're Not Planning Virtual Concerts". Spin. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
2. "The 15 Best Electropop Albums of 2020, PopMatters, Page 3". PopMatters. 18 December 2020.
3. "A New Erasure Album Is Precisely What This Pandemic Needs, PopMatters". PopMatters. 17 August 2020.
4. "Review: Erasure's 'The Neon' Proves New Wave is Alive and Well". 31 August 2020.
5. "Electropop Erasure revisits new wave in new album". 23 August 2020.
6. Portwood, Jerry (4 June 2020). "Erasure Drop Eighties-Leaning 'Hey Now (Think I Got a Feeling),' Tease New Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
7. Masterton, James (28 August 2020). "Charts analysis: Brandon Flowers lands eighth chart-topping album". Music Week. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
8. "Erasure announce remix album and share brand new song 'Secrets'". NME. 14 May 2021.
9. Young, Alex (5 June 2020). "Erasure Announce New Album The Neon, Share First Single: Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
10. van Isacker, Bernard (9 June 2020). "Erasure releases brand new single taken from forthcoming album 'The Neon' – check it here". Side-Line. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
11. Ham, Robert (21 August 2020). "Erasure – The Neon". Pitchfork.
12. Erasure (24 August 2020). "ERASURE – 'The Neon' Virtual Album Release Party with Vince Clarke, Andy Bell, and friends" – via YouTube.
13. Clark, Tyler (20 August 2020). "Erasure's The Neon Offers a Break from Hard Times: Review". Consequence of Sound.
14. "Erasure's Brand New Single Will Be Premiered on BBC Radio 2 and YouTube". erasure-info.com. 1 June 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
15. "Erasure - Fallen Angel (Single Mix)". 22 October 2020.
16. Thompson, Simon. "Erasure's Vince Clarke On 'The Neon,' Touring And London Pubs". Forbes. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
17. "Erasure". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
18. "The Neon by Erasure" – via www.metacritic.com.
19. Masterton, James (6 August 2021). "Charts analysis: Billie Eilish scores second No.1 album". Music Week.
20. "Austriancharts.at – Erasure – The Neon" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
21. "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 39.Týden 2020 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Erasure – The Neon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
23. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
24. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
25. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
26. "Erasure Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
27. "Erasure Chart History (Top Current Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
28. "Erasure Chart History (Top Dance/Electronic Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
29. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
30. "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
31. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 January 2022.