* Erasure

COWBOY

(Mute/Warner Bros.)

The music, as always when Vince Clarke composes his duet work with Andy Bell, sounds important enough: synthesizers everywhere, lavishly orchestration, melodies so saccharine they drip. But the 13 songs all sound exactly alike, which undercuts their lyrics. Not that there's much blood-and-flesh drama to love songs that never mention the beloved's limbs. (Haven't these guys ever read the Song of Solomon?). Just who is meant to share in Clarke's singing about "feelings deep inside," "foolish pride," "meaning you no harm," and the like? No name is given. What does Clarke mean by the song whose refrain goes "How can I say what must remain unspoken"? And where is Alison Moyet, Clarke's partner 15 years ago in Yaz, when his soul -- maybe even his body -- so obviously needs her?

-- Michael Freedberg