Depeche Mode count Techno heroes Ricardo Villalobos and Marcel Dettmann among their fans. Their new album is not quite pop but not quite underground either.

The Essex quartet with synthesizers and the name of a French fashion magazine were totally fresh back in 1980, when electronic music was still predominantly serious, simply not brash and certainly not funky. Depeche Mode put the rhythm into electronic pop and what started off as a fad eventually turned into a remarkably long lasting success story, driven by the songwriting of band member Martin Gore. Pop does not have to be ditzy and Gore proves that there is a way you can balance US stadium tours with challenging words and music.

It is not so obvious today, but Depeche Mode’s sound was one of the forming influences of Techno music back in the day. The Detroit pioneers were intrigued by their futuristic plastic pop and many a German techno artist or label maker started off buying 7″ vinyl singles by that exotic band from the UK. Today’s techno figureheads like recording artist Ricardo Villalobos and Berghain DJ Marcel Dettmann say they grew up listening to Depeche Mode. Legend has it that Ricardo financed the making of his first record by selling his Depeche Mode collection at the time.

Depeche Mode’s newest album, ‘Sounds Of The Universe’ is not a pop record when you compare it with today’s standards. I wouldn’t recommend it to fans of Lady Gaga or Little Boots, because the music is too heavy handed and too clumsy to compete with the 2009 interpretation of 1980’s pop sounds. And I don’t see the Lily Allen fans getting a kick out of the lyrics since the sarcasm and poignancy of Gore’s writing is on a different planet to celebrity diary style.

‘Sounds Of The Universe’ is, within limits, an album for people who like their music a bit more edgy. Album tracks like ‘Wrong’, ‘Little Soul’ and ‘In Sympathy’ explore the potential for electronic music beyond dance beats. You also get some classic 1980’s synth pop sounds as only Depeche Mode could knock ‘em out on songs like ‘Corrupt’ and ‘Perfect’. In terms of electronic music, ‘Sounds Of The Universe’ does not push the envelope. As an album of engaging songs with a faintly nostalgic edge it works rather well.

To an extent, Depeche Mode’s songs sound better when performed by somebody else, like French experimental composer Sylvain Chauveau proofs on ‘Down To The Bone’. This largely acoustic album from 2005 brings out showcases the full drama that’s slumbering in the lyrics and melodies of classic Depeche Mode songs like ‘Policy Of Truth’, ‘Never Let Me Down Again’, ‘Stripped’ and ‘Blasphemous Rumour’.

We say:

US Readers - Buy The New Depeche Mode Album On CD And MP3 Here!
BUY CD BUY MP3

UK And Ireland Readers - Buy The New Depeche Mode Album On CD And MP3 Here!
BUY CD BUY MP3