Depeche Mode "Songs Of Faith And Devotion" (1993)

 

Moving on from the soaring heights of Violator, the English quartet Depeche Mode make a daring bold stride into a resonant religiosity that birthed their Personal Jesus hit. Further embracing the human gulls of guitar texture, they lean on darker acoustic vibrations, Gahan's subtle vibratos inhabiting numerous cold reverbs, wandering towards despaired lows the albums dominating theme seemingly rescues him from.

Songs Of Faith And Devotion is definitely of their vein. Shimmers of Gospel, Hymns and spiritual voiceings line its persuasions. Only with Condemnation do they take a solem plunge of baptism into its sways. A beautiful moment among other ideas that converge with mixes of ideals. One can observe an orchestrated component. Gallant and chivalrous string sections ascend the clouds, disconnected from its counterparts.

Swooned by the times, so too does one hear inflections of an emerging Trip Hop scene. Dense, snappy, popular percussive loops crowd the rhythm section of many a song. Get Right With Me goes hard on its Gospel choral chants, clashing hard with its clunky drum sampling. Rush too flurries a similar fate, its Electro-Industrial synths injecting a jolting energy against dark, steely guitars, Gahan on another frequency.

This records ambitions land it in a variety of places. The better written songs seemingly closer to a formula that served them well before. Its soft religiosity a crooning charm better served the harder they leaned into it. As a whole experience, it holds over with a meaty persuasion but blemishes show on numerous repetitions. Seems the group were pulled in multiple directions, by emerging scenes of the time, yet sticking with their guns and faithful inspiration may have worked out best.

Rating: 6/10

Depeche Mode "Violator" (1990)

 

Hailed by some as a classic, I approached this record with persistence. A turning point came four or so spins in. Suddenly, the brash, jolting instruments began to blossom. Its snappy arrays of waveform synths revealing secrets. The bold, rigid deployment of its punchy melodies and calculated drum patterns birthing emotional resonance from the void they dance above. Violator's aesthetic philosophy leaves a sparse quiet behind the fast attack and decay of its electronic zaps and stiff sampled percussion.

In the drone of its repetition, what I failed to hear was the build up. Songs start minimal and simple, with all components laid bare. Dave Gahan brings in his steely tender voice to take hand and lead along the lyrical narrative with an engulfing persuasion. Under his spell the instrumental broods these emotive swells as the complexity increases. Leaving its simpler crafts in formation, the later arrives toy with organics as dense guitar wails, dawning string sections and abstract electronic.

As I understand it, Voilator was also their debut venture to include guitars. Sometimes performed but mostly sampled, the acoustic tones fit effortlessly to their demeanor. I sensed the commercially exploited Personal Jesus might become an irritation but alas, under repetition I came to appreciate its genius, and union of digital and analog.

The records character lingers mostly on relationships woes, a sadness that permeates loves struggles without conclusion. The tone teases, toying with a curious poise. A soft sadness, melancholy on the horizon, all whilst being dramatically catchy. Its a highly digestible set of Pop tunes, weaving in odd electronic sounds to its tapestry. As the rush increases, so do strange zaps and brash noises. Quite the delight.

Ultimately I can only conclude to agree with its acclaim. Despite lacking the depth time with records offers, my ever growing love of its persuasion is wondrous. In comparison to Black Celebration, Violator stands matured and cunning by a band forging their expressions with sharpened wit and intellect. The underlying emotional rawness heard through voice and instrument is as before. I'm unsure as to why I did not hear it on Music For The Masses? Its earned my attention for a revisit.

Rating: 9/10

My Top 10 Music Discoverys In 2014

Its been a great year for music. I've seen a lot of live music and caught some amazing anniversary shows, like Emperor playing the whole of "In The Nightside Eclipse" ans Nas at Lovebox playing "Illmatic". Also got to see Sikth, Metallica, Eminem, Dog Eat Dog and Limp Bizkit a couple of times too. Theres countless more but seeing two of my all time favorite albums played in full was really something. I foolishly missed out on seeing Linkin Park play "Hybrid Theory" in full and Smashing Pumpkins with Marilyn Manson in London, but no need to dwell on the missed opportunities, next year I will aim to take them all! Beyond live music I've broadened my horizons and discovered more fantastic music, this list covers my top 10 new discoveries over the year, for my top 10 albums of 2014 click here.

(10) Kendrick Lamar

I was never expecting to find much in the way of modern Hip Hop, but this artist had what was great about the old and the new rolled into one. It gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the new era. ive since found myself enjoying a lot more Hip Hop from our current time.

 (9) Skee-Lo

Not the greatest of rappers, but Skee-Lo's style and sound is prime 90s, and I love 90s Hip Hop, after expansively exploring this era over the last few years there are not many leaves left to turn over, but Skee-Lo was a hidden gem that had some how alluded me, much like Kriss Kross possibly because of short lived commercial success at the time.

(8) Chelsea Wolfe

Simply a brilliant musician, Chelsea's dark and haunting psychedelic folk paints her a unique sound to my ears that is a welcome discovery, but one I have neglected to take beyond "Pain Is Beauty", must listen to more of her albums in 2015!

(7)  First Aid Kit

I've said a lot about these two already, my favorite album of 2014, and beyond that their other records are enjoyable too. A great discovery recommended by a reader here at the blog.

(6) Depeche Mode

Known about this band for as long as I can remember, but finally had some encouragement to give them a listen and found that I very much like what they are about. With such a large discography I'm sure I will be listening through their albums for some time to come.

 (5) Ministry

I've known about Ministry for a long long time, even listened to ΚΕΦΑΛΗΞΘ a couple of times but this year their music just clicked for me. I brought a 5 album bundle at bargain price and never looked back. Incredible energy and anger in their music, my favorite discovery from my dive into Industrial Music.

(4) The Art Of Noise

"The Seduction Of Claude Debussy" Is a blinding album, it fit a niche for something I had always wanted to hear, a joining of old and new, Classical and Opera colliding with Jungle and DnB. The record itself is no experiment, this is a masterful execution and expression that utilizes the qualities of each and brings them together in unison, beyond the album they have a few other songs I like and have been a rewarding discovery.

(3) Marilyn Manson

I've been familiar with Marilyn's music since my youth, all my friends liked him, but for some reason it has taken me 15 years to get it, but its well worth the wait. Manson has his own genius and he flaunts it through his angry, rebellious music that has plenty of food for thought. I've really connected to his music and I'm eagerly anticipating a new album from him in 2015.

 (2) Marvin Gaye

I was drawn to the TV after hearing extracts from "Kind Of Blue" to find a great albums of past show, after Miles Davis came Marvin's "What's Going On" album. It stuck a nerve with me immediately, and I found myself at the mercy of his soulful voice which appealed to me through the subject matter. He could talk about our deep rooted societal issues, but package them with a warm reflection and positive perspective that spoke to me deeply. I brought the record instantly and it has been spun countless times since.

(1) The Smashing Pumpkins

Undoubtedly my favorite discovery this year, and maybe of the last few. Their a band I've always known of, but really had no idea what their about. After watching a documentary about them, it clicked, and listening through their albums one by one I've realized Billy Corgan is a musical genius and one I connect with. His sound is brilliant and unique, bringing influences from across the spectrum of Rock, Metal, Grunge and Alternative, but blending it all together and painting songs in his own color. I've enjoyed there first 4 records tremendously and theres still more to come.

Depeche Mode "Music For The Masses" (1987)

Taking off where "Black Celebration" left, Depeche mode's "Music For The Masses" takes a step towards a simpler, easier to digest format that sees much of the instrumentation focused around its main lead rather than the layered constructs of Black Celebration. This minimal and simpler approach is subtle by design but becomes apparent as repeated listens fail to invigorate the same energy and captivity the previous record had. Its a calmer beast by design, and my tendency to compare the two may hold back my enjoyment a little, but there is no doubt that this is a solid record that at no point has felt stale or mediocre at any point.

The calmer tone of this record is soothing, the compositions and arrangements pair well with lush sounding synthesized instruments and a soft, yet punchy kit. The subtlety of the less "grabbing" leads make for great enjoyment, but not the sort that comes to the forefront of you attention and fills you with awe, like "Stripped" and "Fly On The Windscreen". Thats whats disappointed me most about this record, the hooks and leads are less ambitious, and mostly remain in the quieter comfort zone this record muddles through without having any bigger or bolder moments, with one exception, "Strangelove" which genuinely sounds like a left over from the previous album, boasting a more upbeat energy and catchy hook.

What may lack between the two records is certainly not in identity, Depeche Mode very much sound the same band, retaining their colorful sound and moody undertone. Every listen has been enjoyable but theres rarely a moment that jumps out and grabs your attention, its a subtle experience, maybe more suitable to the background while working on other tasks. The album as a whole is decent, but a few slower, moody tracks towards the end are not always what I'm in the mood for when listening to this group.

Favorite Tracks: Never Let Me Down, Strangelove

Rating: 5/10

Depeche Mode "Black Celebration" (1986)

It feels a little strange to talk about music you know is hugely influential, yet know so little about. Over the years I've heard nothing but good things about Depeche Mode, their influence and legacy. Finally I have got around to giving them a listen. It took me a while to fully grasp this album and adjust to their sound, which is strange considering how clean and approachable they are. My memory of the first listen feels almost alien to how it sounds now, maybe this is the power of familiarity.

Depeche Mode compose powerful, intelligent music with a strong emotional narrative and direction thats guided by energetic, bold arrangements of synth notation and quirky noises layering these songs with detail. This absorbing sound is beautifully composed giving bright, colorful melodic leads room to shine and chime with Martin Gore's loving voice and swooning lyrics. The combination is powerful, creating a lasting impression as the two dance around each other and drive home moments you can't get out of your head.

Their genius is subtle, there is a brilliance to these compositions, the group build up suspense and narrative with detailed instrumentals that are ever so slightly contrasting to Gore's powerful soothing voice. Then at the perfect moment they shift the gears to let the melodic lead unfold and meld with the vocals to create those goosebump moments that last. Fantastic sounding album that has grown on me tremendously with each listen, now i understand what the fuss is about.

Favorite Songs: Fly On The Windscreen, A Question Of Time, Stripped, Here Is The House

Rating: 9/10