Erasure frontman Andy Bell released his surprisingly good debut solo album, Electric Blue, in 2005 and now he’s back with follow-up Non-Stop, which drops on June 8.  He originally released two singles from the disc, “Running Out” and “Will You Be There,” under the name Mimo (probably to avoid any pre-judging), but an injunction has forced him to revert back to Andy Bell.
 
 Non-Stop is a dance album, pure and simple.  There are lots of pop elements and plenty of catchy hooks, but this album is meant for the clubs.  Disco beats run through all the tracks to keep you moving while synth and electronica saturate every song.  There is a light, summery feel to the disc which makes it fun to listen to, though ultimately maybe not that memorable.
 
“Running Out” is a solid, if by the numbers, club track.  While it has boring lyrics, the driving beat makes it completely danceable.  “Call On Me” will probably be the biggest hit on the dance floor—it’s light and fun with groovy disco beats and seductively soulful vocals.  “Subject/Object” is a little too Rick Astley for me, but “Say What You Want” uses fun synth to get me back into a dancing mood.  “Will You Be There” keeps me there with some great electronica and an anthemic chorus. “Slow Release” is the closest thing to a ballad and it showcases Bell at his most mournful, if also at his most lackluster.  It’s begging for a re-mix.  “Touch,” the most industrial song (and one of the most interesting, production-wise) on Non-Stop, is about Bell’s contempt for the celebrity culture while the title track throbs with its insistent beat and staccato vocals.
 
“DHDQ” AKA “Debbie Harry Drag Queen” is hilarious, fun, and beyond campy.  A fabulous homage to Ms. Blondie and the performers who try but can never quite be her; this is an infectious and frothy romp.  The disc ends with one of the oddest pairings ever as Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Farrell joins Bell on “Honey If You Love Him (That’s All That Matters), written by Farrell.  While the song is less than I had hoped for, the chorus is hypnotic and it gets bonus points for the line “Got to confess/Your ex was a hot mess.”
 
Pascal Gabriel produced, and while he goes overboard in a few spots, for the most part he keeps it clean and fun.  I can’t say the same for the cover art designer.  Bee Gees, much?  Sad to say that would keep me from even looking at this disc if I didn’t know who Bell was.  As it is, Non-Stop isn’t as good a disc as Electric Blue, probably because it doesn’t have the stand-out collaborations Blue did, but it has some great beats, a few good hooks, and "DHDQ."  It’s a solid, fun dance album: great for summer parties by the pool.
 
Track List:
1. Running Out
2. Call On Me
3. Subject/Object
4. Say What You Want
5. Will You Be There?
6. Slow Release
7. Touch
8. Non-Stop
9. DHDQ
10. Honey If You Love Him (That’s All That Matters)