Goodbye seventies! Vince Clarke formed Yazoo (called Yaz in the States for legal reasons) with Alison Moyet shortly after quitting Depeche Mode, and the duo enjoyed immediate success with their debut album Upstairs At Eric’s. The record is named after the studio it was recorded in: album producer Eric Radcliffe’s Blackwing Studios which was situated just above Clarke’s own studio. Ice cold electro beats, rubbery analog basslines; it’s like Kraftwerk but with more soul, and Moyet’s soaring voice is leagues above the robot poetry that peppered Computer World released just the previous year. Wait for the break in “Situation” and you’ll see where Dopplereffekt got their swag. Includes the hits “Don’t Go,” “Only You,” “Midnight,” “In My Room” and more.

• 180g black vinyl pressing
• European import
• remastered audio
  
• printed insert
• original release year: 1982
  
• music label: Mute 2019

reviewed by sakura incident 07/2018