FLAMBOYANT pop duo Erasure perform a sell out gig at the Portsmouth Guildhall on Sunday night.

Keyboard wizard Vince Clarke was one of the founding members of the groundbreaking group Depeche Mode and went on to form Yazoo with Alison Moyet.

When Moyet left to pursue a solo career, Clarke decided to build on his success in a duo and form Erasure. He advertised for a singer and in stepped the theatrical personality of Andy Bell.

Bell's elaborate performances and Clarke's visionary yet low-key musical talent combined to create an unstoppable force in the mid-1980s.

After a succession of successful and less-successful albums, their latest release, Nightbird, has been hailed as a return to form for the twosome.

Their trademark sound is still present in this new material, inspired by Bell's insomnia, and their show in Portsmouth promises to be as hypnotic and upbeat as ever.

However, disappointed fans who are missing out on the sold out show will be able to experience the gig for themselves, as official live recordings of the performance will be sold as a limited edition two CD set the day after the event through Live Here Now.

It is also hoped that a DVD including recordings from one of the duo's concerts will be released at some point in the future.