POP MUSIC REVIEWS : ERASURE DEBUT: A DECA-DANCE AT THE PALACE

Erasure’s local debut Wednesday at the Palace would seem to have had something to put off just about everyone, but the young crowd ate it up. Make no mistake, the limits of mainstream tolerance have expanded in 1986.

Lead singer Andy Bell isn’t nearly as expressive vocally as he is physically, but at least isn’t as monotonal as most of his current English counterparts.

In amusing contrast to the muscle-shirted Bell were two blow-dried male backup singers, both of whom--doing not-all-that-limber Pips moves in their blue sports jackets with wide ties--looked straight out of a 1976 high school prom.

The remaining presence on stage, and the only chap to actually play any instruments during the hour-long set, was Vince Clarke (ex-Yaz, Depeche Mode). He’s studied Giorgio Moroder well, and the suspicion is that he does possess at least a minor gift for melody, but in this depressing disco-fest most signs of it were submerged within his fondness for monochromatic dance-music arrangements.

At least Erasure is a message band, though. “They say love is infatuation,” starts one chorus. And what do you say love is, Andy and Vince? “I say love is dancing across the nation.” Next.