Did anyone catch Depeche Mode’s new track “Wrong”? (not to be confused with the Ministry track of the same name)
Clips are floating around YouTube of their premiere of the song in Berlin, Germany at the 2009 Echo awards.
Pretty decent track. Has sort of a NIN-light feel to it.
DM is pretty remarkable…they’re closing in on 30 years!
From what i’ve read this new album of theirs is sort of like their devotion album, but more poppier. A mix of Playing The Angel and …Devotion would be fucking amazing. yet to hear this song, but i’ve heard another which was pretty cool called Fragile Tension, which kinda sounds a little like their pre-black celebration days (to me), but with guitar.
Probably my no. 1 album that i’m mainly looking forward for so far this year. Might even trek out and catch them (a rarity).
unintersting fact: i actually got one of my students work experience at Mute records a few weeks ago and they were responsible for collecting and delivering the masters of the new DM album to/from their offices. apparently they wouldn’t trust a courrier with it, but would one of my students cos I help mute out a fair amount. i’m on the guestlist for their london show too 
Wrong and Fragile Tension haven’t exactly blown me away, but I’m also not a big fan of their newer, buzzier/softsynth DM-lite sound. I can tell they’re attempting to re-capture some of that early analog simplicity from Speak and Spell and A Broken Frame, but it’s just not the same. I found PTA to be 50% good, 50% filler (Precious was their best single in a while), and 100% overcompressed. I always felt Mode’s sound benefited from late 80’s production, with the punchier sounds and digital synths (namely the Emulator).
I never expect another Violator or BC from them, but would like to think they can still pen some memorable melodies. Ultra is probably still their best effort since Alan left (who knows how many synths and sounds he took with him, that they had re-create/emulate). I do plan to buy the new album and catch them on tour, haven’t missed them since '87.
1002
Since Wilder left, I think we’ve gotten some really solid stuff imo. I really enjoy both Ultra and Exciter albums. PTA’s a good album, but the previous two were a bit more “out there” and different compared to the other stuff. I still listen to the Exciter album pretty regularly too.
I always felt Mode’s sound benefited from late 80’s production, with the punchier sounds and digital synths (namely the Emulator).
1002
Agreed. “Songs of Faith & Devotion” was also well produced and layered (imo). Whatever happened to Flood (the producer)? He was on quite a streak there for a while with mega-albums from DM, U2, NIN, and Smashing Pumpkins.
[reply] I always felt Mode’s sound benefited from late 80’s production, with the punchier sounds and digital synths (namely the Emulator).
1002
Agreed. “Songs of Faith & Devotion” was also well produced and layered (imo). Whatever happened to Flood (the producer)? He was on quite a streak there for a while with mega-albums from DM, U2, NIN, and Smashing Pumpkins.[/reply]
Flood’s great. He’s what made me want to become a record producer.
Of course, I didn’t actually become a record producer, but he made me want to.
Flood’s great. He’s what made me want to become a record producer.
Of course, I didn’t actually become a record producer, but he made me want to.
yeah, good one![:P]
Late,
grmpysmrf
I like it, and I did enjoy the last couple of albums.
Here’s the video which was very surprising…
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=52704787
Thanks for the video link. Pretty piss poor, IMO. DM’s videos have fallen off terribly since the glory Corbijn days. They haven’t had a memorable video since the “Ultra” days, honestly.
Videos aside, I thoroughly enjoyed Ultra as well as Playing the Angel. In fact, I thought PTA was a huge return to form from the very disappointing Exciter. They’re certainly still putting out strong, relevant albums long after most of their '80s contemporaries have hung it up or become tired parodies of themselves (Cure, U2, New Order etc).