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Depeche Mode - Sounds of the Universe
- Few bands have aged as gracefully as Depeche Mode. From their 1997 comeback album, “Ultra,” to the present, DM has continued to offer shimmering, masterfully crafted electro pop with enough hooks to continually grab radio attention while retaining lyrics dark and complex enough to stimulate the mind as well. They might be one of the few groups likely to make you dance and think at the same time.
“Sounds of the Universe,” the newest record by DM, continues the fine tradition cemented by “Playing the Angel,” the band’s preceding album, offering intricate, spacey soundscapes augmented by singer Dave Gahan’s haunting, stentorian vocals and guitarist/primary songwriter Martin L. Gore’s alternately soul-searching and soul-baring lyrics. Songs like “Wrong,” “Perfect” and “Little Soul” find the band exploring common territory: a vague sense of impending doom, the pain of what could have been, love as both a state of grace and damnation, etc. However, the words on “Universe” may be DM’s most direct effort to date. Even with confessional songs like “Precious” on “Angel,” the numbers here often find Gore abandoning pretense and metaphor, speaking frankly to a lover (as in “Fragile Tension,” “Jezebel” and album-opener “In Chains,” the spiritual successor to DM’s early-‘90s “Violator” period), a young protégé (“In Sympathy”) and even himself (“Peace”).
Perhaps Gore borrowed a page from Gahan’s lyric sheet when writing for “Universe.” The singer only began crafting songs as recently as “Angel,” partnering with DM tour drummer Christian Eigner and keyboardist Andrew Philpott. However, Gahan’s songs – three on “Angel,” three on “Universe,” respectively – favor a conversational tone, as opposed to Gore’s loftier approach. Many critics pointed out how Gahan’s contributions to “Angel” were very similar to Gore’s. Here, though, it seems Gore is the one taking lessons.
The results on “Universe” speak for themselves. Gore and Gahan’s similar approach to songwriting makes the album seem more cohesive than “Angel,” allowing cross-pollination between the tracks. The production values on “Universe” also sound more polished than many latter-day DM projects. In less capable hands, this could mean bland, sterilized pop; in this band’s hands, though, it makes for captivated listening.
This latest album title is perhaps the best indicator of why “Universe” succeeds so spectacularly. As with all the best DM songs, the lyrics here are relatable and outfitted with some of the best, most diverse dance music available. However, the nearly uniform honesty Gore and Gahan achieve with their songwriting leads to a new level of accessibility. With this album, Depeche Mode has created a sound that hits a universal chord.
Reviewer: Adam Rowan
new
Reviewer's Rating: 9
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1
Added: 24-Jun-2009
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