Depeche-mood : moody depeche-mode devotee

Here it is, Sounds Of The Universe is out !

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