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From The Desk Of Erasure’s Andy Bell: Children’s Shows And Movies From The ’60s And ’70s

Oh, l’amour! Andy Bell is back with a brand new solo offering. The Erasure frontman is releasing the techno-tinged Non-Stop (Mute) this week. The LP was co-produced by Bell and Pascal Gabriel (Kylie Minogue, Ladyhawke, Miss Kittin, Little Boots). Gabriel also helmed Bell’s previous releases as Mimó. Non-Stop‘s first single, “Call On Me,” pulses with a glittering electronic beat and features heavily processed vocals with an Italo-disco flair. It’s quite a departure from the romantic, falsetto-driven synth pop of Erasure, drawing inspiration from soul, techno, Tin Pan Alley and even opera. Bell will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.

Bell: I’d like to mention some of the really scary children’s programmes produced here in the U.K. in the early ’60s to late ’70s, like Paulus The Woodgnome, with the scariest witch you ever saw in your life. And Pogles’ Wood, which was completely magical and featured a knitted kind of family living in an enchanted forest. Pogle was like a cross between a dog and a squirrel and used to scurry around. It was later banned by the BBC because Mrs. Pogle drank too much elderberry wine. I believe the guy who did the voiceovers was called Oliver Postgate, and he had such a soothing lovely voice that he later created Clangers, which is about a family that live on the moon. I’m sure Vince Clarke was inspired by some of the sound effects on this show. Lastly, I’d like to mention The Singing Ringing Tree and Three Gifts For Cinderella.

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