Vince Clarke may be best known for his work with Depeche Mode and Erasure, but he is also known for helping shape pop music as one half of synth-pop duo Yaz. Shortly after leaving Depeche Mode due to creative differences, Clarke joined forces with singer Alison Moyet to further imbed the synthesizer in popular music. Only in existence for two years, and releasing as many records, Yaz quickly rose to synth-pop dominance by combining Clarke’s unmistakable songwriting with Moyet’s emotionally driven vocals. Their influence continues to reverberate through pop music. Just listen to the LCD Soundsystem song “Losing My Edge”.
The two disbanded so unexpectedly that many of the tracks on You And Me Both were never performed live. That was until the duo reunited in 2008 for the 18-date Yazoo Reconnected: Live Tour. According to Moyet, the tour was merely a completion of what they had started – writing, recording, performing. But with the change of decade, and massive change in technology, Clarke unobtrusively retooled the band’s music for the digital age, creating a crispness and fluidity that was not possible 20+ years earlier.
Yaz are now set to release Reconnected Live September 28th via Mute Records. While a tracklist hasn’t been revealed, the 2-disc album features tracks from the duo’s two albums, 1982’s Upstairs at Eric’s and 1983’s You and Me Both, including “Only You”, “Don’t Go”, “Situation”, and “Nobody’s Diary”, the last of which has never been heard live outside of the tour.
