To be honest, it’s hard for me to tell you right away, how I feel about this record. At first it was like: “Oh ! my god, what is going on ?” If you only compare to Playing The Angel, Sounds Of The Universe is alot more calm and you can definitely tell Martin feels alot better than he did when he composed Playing The Angel.

I really enjoy Wrong, which is what I consider being the best track on this NEW L.P. Then, I really get confused. It feels like Ben Hillier was there a while and then, left. I also think there are some really good songs, but it doesn’t feel as easy to get in as it was with Playing The Angel. My feeling is that Depeche Mode has never been a band which needed to be up-to-date, they were ahead, but with this L.P, they are just sort of following what mainstream bands are doing. It probably needs to grow on me.

I have the chance to own the Sounds Of The Universe Deluxe Box Set Edition and to tell you the truth, I think the demos are by far the most interesting thing on this box. I never thought Martin was able to deliver such great demos, I mean, you can really feel like everything is there, but needs to be amplified, it’s simple, subtle, and it’s definitely really made by a sensitive personn. (I have never, ever had any doubt about it !!)
If you did not yet have the chance to hear it, you should think of it as a Counterfeit L.P, but really from scratch. No matter from which period these demos are from, Little 15,  Only When I Lose Myself, Sweetest Perfection, etc. It always sounds/feels great.

This makes me think of 3 things :
- Martin Gore is an awesome writer & composer;
- Dave Gahan is a great, great singer;
- Depeche Mode really and definitely misses Alan Wilder ( Should I say it Twice ?!)

Alan Wilder was the best to understand Martin’s work, and was the best to enhance his work to bring it to another level.
Alan Wilder is required for the next Depeche Mode record, PLEASE ! (as a producer would be perfect)

You can find all Sounds Of The Universe album covers (record sleeves)

Also you still have Sounds Of The Universe Lyrics - Depeche Mode - SOTU lyrics

MARTIN L. GORE: LAYS

You definitely, should avoid this book called “MARTIN L. GORE: LAYS” : a bilingual book in french and english about Martin L. Gore Lyrics.

The book itself is great,  you can find original lyrics, and few illustrations, but the translations and writing skills of the author are missing the point, almost every time. It gives a very bad feeling to the lyrics written in english, and translations are almost not french, by times. Obviously the translator doesn’t feel comfortable with french, and maybe this authorized version should not be printed, if you consider it damages original work.

Here is two examples of what has been done :

Personal Jesus :

“Your own personal jesus, Someone to hear your prayers, Someone who cares.”

> Translation <

“Votre Jésus personnel à vous, Quelqu’un qui entende vos prières, quelqu’un qui s’intéresse à vous.”

It sounds weird, doesn’t it ?! Weird and pretty bad, too. In french , you can read : “Your own personal Jesus, yourself, Someone to hear your prayers, Someone interested in you”

Worst of all, sometimes, translations change sense and meaning and seems to avoid any poetic approach of the lyrics, for example in Never let me down. Lyrics in french “Ne me fais plus jamais faux bond.“  so far translation is ok, but then “ride” becomes “walk” in french, loosing track of the situation.

“I’m taking a ride, With my best friend, I hope he never lets me down again, He knows where he’s taking me, taking me where I want to be, I’m taking a ride With my best friend”

> Translation <

“Je vais en promenade avec mon meilleur ami. J’espère que jamais plus il ne me fera faux bond. Il sait où il m’emmène, il m’emmène, là où je veux me trouver. Je fais un tour avec mon meilleur ami.”

In the end, translated from french you get something like this :

“I’m going out for a walk with my best friend, I hope he will never let me down again, He knows where he’s taking me, taking me where I want to find myself, I’m going out With my best friend”

In fact they are many of the translations that are made without considering the context. If the goal was to give a better understanding of Martin’s lyrics, the goal is missed and like I said, it’s harmful.

Save 23 euros, don’t buy this book.

I don’t think Martin L. Gore knows about this, maybe he should.

P.s: I would advise the writer/translator to read : Musique d’ailleurs par Leonard Cohen, an awesome work, translated by: Jean Guiloineau  

And tell me what you think !

So far, “Corrupt” sounds great at first try !

I just wanted to share this video: “come back” with all of you. Comme back is on the forthcoming Depeche Mode New Album : Sounds of the universe.

Just a small post to let you know, www.sounds-of-the-universe-lyrics.com is out and includes all lyrics (except bonus tracks) from the forthcoming Depeche Mode : Sounds of the universe.

Hope you like it as much, I enjoyed doing it, well, just let me know what you think about it !

I like it, but I was Wrong to think it could bring anything new. Hope the album itself goes a little beyond the familiar sound of this first single. Too much confort has to be avoided for such a great band.

You can also listen to wrong Depeche Mode single here.

It feels weird and also great at the same time. This band has been out for so long it feels like these guys are related to our everyday life, just like family members.

Depeche Mode has always been a worldwide band, even though, its success has alot to do with Europe. Obviously Germany is a good place to give this sort of announcement.

I have no idea how will be the next record, but be sure I will be attending at “Le Stade De France “  June 27 th  2009.

Oh by the way, I also have, myself, a question for the band : Do you guys remember a young boy sweating in a white t-shirt over at Brest in 1993 ?

Of course I have a thought for Alan Wilder, who should be there, too.

At first he was only a keyboard player. From Depeche Mode history point of view, his influence became real with “Construction Time Again”, the whole album became more complex in its approach and structure.  Alan managed to give an experimental taste to the more classical and minimalist approach of Martin Gore’s tunes.

From “Black Celebration” to “Songs of Faith and Devotion” he beautifully crafted every song, giving shape to moods, ambiances we all have enjoyed.

Many of my favorite Depeche Mode songs are songs where Alan was involved, he, Dave’s voice, great Martin composing was the “crème de la crème” of what you can expect from an “Electronic band” and mainly from Depeche Mode.

I don’t think Alan and Martin were sharing exactly the same view about music, and it is really what makes this band having such a strong personality. Depeche Mode carries this dark and tensed feeling, a sort of strangeness Alan was the best to enhance. No producer since his departure did as well in any other of theirs LP’s. Depeche Mode keeps on doing great songs, but to me (still) more conventional and somehow expected.

So, I think having Alan coming back again could be a great idea, for one last record, a record making history of course.

Alan will you ?

You can learn more about Alan Wilder on his website

Apple also has an interesting article about the way Alan Wilder works

Hourglass LPOctober 22, 2007
(Mute records - CD STUMM 288)

Think, I saw something

In fact most of them don’t like this band. I know it is weird, but true. Whenever we talk about music, I sometimes, talk about depeche mode and often get carried away, somewhow it intrigues.

So let me introduce you to : “Depeche Mode tracklist for people who don’t like depeche mode“.

This tracklist is made for people not knowing and not enjoying Depeche Mode.

I chose tracks that are most of the time unkown and not representative of what they do, to make it a bit more realistic i ask my girl friend who likes only a few songs they made to pass the test, so let me know !

• -”Love, in Itself 4″
• - “Personal Jesus” (Acoustic)
• - “Nothing” (Headcleanr Rock Mix)
• - “Condemnation” (Paris Mix)
• - “One Caress”
• - “Useless” (The Kruder + Dorfmeister Session)
• - “In Your Room” (Apex Mix)
• - “Halo” (Goldfrapp Remix)
• - “Enjoy The Silence” (Harmonium)

So here it is !

By the way Also tell me what you think of this selection. (even though, i’ ll probably say something like, hum, ok, i understand, i see, if it comes out not to be a compliment.)

WARNING: Copyright and Performing Rights on all songs are property of their respective songwriters and publishing companies .

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