Torsten is a series of projects by pop singer Andy Bell of the band Erasure consisting of various stage acts performed by him, and accompanying soundtracks, concept albums and remix albums. The series was written by playwright Barney Ashton-Bullock, and music by Christopher Frost. Two major works emerged, Torsten the Bareback Saint (2014) and Torsten the Beautiful Libertine (2016) with two accompanying album / soundtracks and two Variance Remix albums.
Torsten the Bareback Saint
2014 musical
Torsten the Bareback Saint
Music
Christopher Frost
Lyrics
Barney Ashton-Bullock
Setting
England
Premiere
5 August 2014 (2014-08-05): Assembly Rooms Edinburgh
Promotional material for the show describes it as "a set of musical postcards from the hotspots of memory of a semi-immortal polysexual".[2] The music is an episodic song-cycle, which Bell performs accompanied by a small musical ensemble.[3]
Bell debuted the show at the 2014 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he performed at Assembly Studio One daily from the 5th through the 16th of August. Prior to the festival, he gave two private performances at the St. James Theatre in London. The first of these, on 24 July 2014, was for an invited audience of family and friends; the second, on 26 July, he performed for a small gathering of fans.
Singles from Variance The Torsten the Bareback Saint Remixes
"Weston-Super-Mare" Released: 2015
Following the release of the soundtrack, a remix album was released in 2015. One single, "Weston-Super-Mare" was released from the remix album in 2015.
All lyrics are written by Barney Ashton-Bullock
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Weston-Super-Mare" (Radio Super mix)
2.
"Weston-Super-Mare" (Extended version)
3.
"Weston-Super-Mare" (Dancing with Ruby remix)
4.
"Weston-Super-Mare" (Mooger remix)
5.
"Weston-Super-Mare" (Industrial Soundscape mix)
6.
"Bingo Hall Baby" (Electropop remake)
7.
"I Don't Like" (Radio remix)
8.
"Fountain of Youth" (Radio remix)
9.
"Tosten the Bareback Saint" (Promotional medley)
Torsten the Beautiful Libertine
2016 musical
Torsten the Beautiful Libertine
Music
Christopher Frost
Lyrics
Barney Ashton-Bullock
Setting
England
Premiere
4 March 2016 (2016-03-04): Above The Stag Theatre, London
Following Torsten the Bareback Saint, Andy launched a musical stage show titled Torsten the Beautiful Libertine at the Above the Stag Theatre in London in March 2016.[4] It is also written by playwright Barney Ashton-Bullock, with music by Christopher Frost.
Soundtrack album
He also released a 17-track album containing songs written by Barney Ashton-Bullock. It was released on Cherry Red Records. From the press release: "On the album Andy assumes the character of Torsten who has had, over time, many lovers and friends whom ultimately he has outlived. That he himself survives is a bittersweet truth, but it is with an increasingly melancholic emotional distance from people.
The album was made available as a download and also in a limited-edition black vinyl and CD format presented in mini-gatefold LP style. It also includes a twenty page booklet of lyrics and new colour photographs.
One song was released as a single "My Precious One" on 4 March 2016
Tracklist
All lyrics are written by Barney Ashton-Bullock
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Statement of Intent"
3:02
2.
"Beautiful Libertine"
6:26
3.
"Loitering with Intent"
3:17
4.
"This Town Needs Jesus"
5:19
5.
"The Slums We Loved"
4:18
6.
"Lady Domina Bizarre"
2:24
7.
"(Ooh Baby, You're So) Queercore!" (with Lana Pillay on lead vocals)
3:54
8.
"Blow Jobs for Cocaine"
3:22
9.
"I'm Your Lover"
3:56
10.
"Rupert Drinks Vodka"
1:35
11.
"We Were Singing Along to Liza"
4:27
12.
"Photos of Daniel"
2:40
13.
"I Am the Boy Who Smiled at You"
4:57
14.
"Bond Street Catalogues"
6:49
15.
"My Precious One"
3:08
16.
"To Have and to Hold"
1:31
17.
"Statement of Intent (Reprise)"
1:11
Variance – 'The Torsten the Beautiful Libertine' Remixes
Variance – 'The Torsten the Beautiful Libertine' Remixes
Singles from Variance II: The Torsten the Beautiful Libertine Remixes
"Queercore!" Released: 1 July 2016
Like the Torsten the Bareback Saint, the release of Torsten the Beautiful Libertine was followed by a Variance Remix titled Variance II. The remix album was released on 1 July 2016. One more single, "Queercore!" was released from the remix album in 2016.
Tracklist
Part One - Senseless Symphony
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Senseless / I Am Torsten / Freshly Buggered / Society, Society / Pre-Op, Post-Silicon / Extracurricular Affirmation / That Judas Kiss"
Part Two - The Remixes
No.
Title
Length
2.
"My Precious One" (Hulda Remix)
3.
"Queercore!" (con Lana Pillay -Matt Pop Club Remix-)