I'm sure you all know who Andy Bell is, but for those not quite in the know, well, simply put, he is the lead singer of the English synthpop duo Erasure. There, that wasn't so hard an dyes, you did know him after all, didn't you. I mean, that voice, those videos, those uber catchy 80's/90's songs all mean that Bell's voice has been in your life for over 20 years now and with the release of his latest solo album, will continue to be.

This latest solo effort is entitled Variance – The Torsten The Bareback Saint Remixes and features remixed versions of nine tracks from last year’s of the same name, Torsten The Bareback Saint. It is Bell's audio recording to which accompanied his one-man theatre show of the same name at that time.

Tracklisting: Weston-Super-Mare (Radio Super Mix) / Weston-Super-Mare (Extended Version) / Weston-Super-Mare (Dancing With Ruby Remix) / Weston-Super-Mare (Mooger! Remix) / Weston-Super-Mare (Industrial Soundscape Mix) / Bingo Hall Baby (Electropop Remake) / I Don’t Like (Radio Remix) / Fountain Of Youth (Radio Remix) / Torsten The Bareback Saint (Promotional Medley).

Here on this concept album, Andy sings in character as an age-defying poly sexual as the tale of Torsten the Bareback Saint unfolds. Musically, and especially lyrically, this is a highly theatrical and moving song-cycle of poem-driven postcards from the hot spots of an outsider's memory; memories from a life lived as a semi-immortal, learned sensualist.

Autobiographical, perhaps?

Regardless, Bell, as "Torsten", sings deeply affecting songs of exposition that incrementally illuminate his extraordinarily mysterious life as a man disconcerted by his own bizarre experience of the nature of passing time. In a nice turn of pace, this remix CD actually comes "designed" as a Limited Edition Black Vinyl Effect (on said CD) for all your Andy Bell fans; or record collector's, in general.

www.saint-torsten.com