Depeche Mode Sounds Of The Universe Review
New CD from Martin Gore & Co. featuring Wrong, Peace and In Sympathy
May 9, 2009
Depeche Mode formed in 1980 Basildon, Essex, England by founding members Vince Clarke, Dave Gahan, Martin Gore and Andrew Fletcher.
After the departure of Clarke, who went on to have success with Yazoo and Erasure, Gore took over as principle songwriter, Alan Wilder joined and the band quickly distanced itself from its pop-oriented new wave sound in favor of more industrial electronica.
Over the course of their long and tempestuous career band tension, substance abuse and the strain of remaining relevant didn’t stop Depeche Mode from creating some of the darkest and inspirational synthpop of the last 30 years influencing bands as divers as The Pet Shop Boys and Radiohead.
After 1990’s breakthrough album Violator, Depeche Mode stopped making music for the masses. Deciding he wanted to be a rock star, lead singer Gahan grew out his locks and dumped the keyboards base in favor of louder guitars. The new rockier gave Depeche Mode their first number one album in America, Songs of Faith and Devotion, but nearly caused the band to break up.
Their downfall, including a suicide attempt by Gahan, occurred to be more of a black celebration. When they did return to the studio as a trio following the departure of Wilder, their added edge allowed them to deepen the music they made best: deep, dark melodramatic electronica filled with lyrics devoted to the struggles of finding inner peace.
Sounds of the Universe
Coming full circle on their twelfth studio album Sounds of the Universe, Depeche Mode return to their 80’s roots, crafting the project with analogue equipment while dressing up portions of the disc in rock.
Sounds of the Universe, one of their best albums since Violator, is a more introspective record than their louder 2000 counterparts, juxtaposing the pop “Just Can’t Get Enough” side of the band with the grittier “I Feel You” dimension while weaving through their signature themes of hope and salvation, damnation and religion.
Not immediately accessible, Sounds of the Universe doesn’t contain tracks that instantly jump out or sound like singles. This is an album to be devoured over time, allowing listeners to experience something new with repeated listens.
“In Chains” begins the album with a buzz noise that quickly dissipates into a low-fi track before bleeding into the grit of the Gahan-penned “Hole To Feed”. First single “Wrong”, a harder edged track, reads like a grocery list of all the misfortunes of the singer.
Other stand out tracks include the taut “Fragile Tension”, the synth-heavy “In Sympathy” and the rockier “Miles Away / The Truth Is”, another of three tracks written by Gahan (the third being the forgettable “Come Back”).
Depeche Mode Search for Peace
Depeche Mode may not have the impact they once did, but Sounds of the Universe ranks as one of the best albums in their career. After nearly 30 years of highs and lows, this is a record statement of a search for serenity. “Peace”, one of the most accessible and 80’s New Wave-influenced tracks on the album, sums up the project in its lyric “I will find peace”.
Depeche Mode’s Sounds of the Universe is available in various physical and digital formats including the expansive iTunes Pass which includes the full album, along with a host of remixes and videos.
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