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Soundcheck

Friday, May 19, 2006
  • Andy Bell of Erasure performs on stage at Vicar Street during "The Erasure Show" 2005 tour in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by ShowBizIreland/Getty Images)
    Andy Bell of Erasure performs on stage at Vicar Street during "The Erasure Show" 2005 tour in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by ShowBizIreland/Getty Images)

    Erasure Turns Acoustic

    Erasure, the British synth-pop group whose early hits included "Chains of Love" and "Ship of Fools," won a cult-like following in the 1980s. Led by the flamboyant Andy Bell - one of the first openly gay performers in pop music - they became known for their intense melodies and sweeping electronic balladry. Nearly two decades later they have released a new acoustic album, "Union Street," and today they perform live in the studio. Also, a conversation with Peter Lavezzoli, author of The Dawn of Indian Music in the West: Bhairavi. He explains how a 1955 recording called "Music of India: Morning and Evening Ragas" was largely responsible for introducing Western audiences to the sounds of the Indian tabla and the tamboura.

India Rising

Peter Lavezzoli, author of The Dawn of Indian Music in the West: Bhairavi discusses the rise in popularity of Indian music in the West.

Erasure Unplugged

A live acoustic performance by Erasure in the WNYC studio.

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.