Album of the week: "Spirit" - Depeche Mode get serious
17/03/2017
written by Christoph Soltmannowski
The album was released with a second CD of remixes.
Depeche Mode, active for 37 years, return to their tried and tested qualities on their fourteenth album "Spirit" and at the same time appear fresh - with a current, albeit gloomy and serious commentary on world events. The synthesizer boy band milksops of the early eighties have long since become icons of pop music. After the successful eighties, the excessive nineties and the somewhat midlife-orientated noughties, they are now showing maturity, almost wisdom of age. Looking back in figures: 100 million records sold, over a thousand concerts, the most successful electronic band of all time according to "Q" magazine - and guaranteed to be the band with the most cover bands and tribute events, for example the regular "More than Mode" party in Zurich.
The new album
Can you think of anything new after 13 albums? Dave Gahan, Martin Fletcher and Martin Gore comment on the signs of the times. Without naming names, they refer to current populists and people's seducers. They paint a gloomy picture of the future: at the center is the pre-released track "Where's the Revolution". House photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn created the best video for it since "Enjoy the Silence" and "Personal Jesus": with Karl Marx beards, the three push a wooden platform into the factory yard, Dave Gahan mimes a revolutionary in direct reference to Lenin. However, they are certainly referring to more contemporary popular leaders and populists. Symbolic-satirical world theater with the message: history repeats itself, revolution usually ends in disaster.
The gloomy, less optimistic message also comes through in all the other tracks. For the first time, producer and keyboardist Peter Gordeno and Austrian drummer Christian Eigner, who are usually only involved on stage, also took part in the recordings.
Recommended tracks
"Where's the Revolution" - Perfect! A unity of sound, subtle humor, and actually only complete with the equally brilliant video.
"Eternal" - it can also be a little softer and more emotional. A lullaby for the next generation.
"So Much Love". Has drive. Acoustic drums, tight guitars combined with synth escapades - proof that DM is still a rock band. Definitely a blast live.
"Fail" - with a positive ending. Kraftwerk was the inspiration, especially for the drum tracks, leading to conciliatory harmonies. Is there still hope, even in dark times?
Verdict
On their fourteenth album, Depeche Mode manage to avoid self-plagiarism and irrelevance; "Spirit" reflects the spirit of the times. At the same time, they remain true to their style - and even hark back to their musical forefathers Kraftwerk more clearly than ever, as they last did in 1990 with "Violator". After a few mediocre to sagging albums, this is finally a solid pillar in the history of Depeche Mode. The more you listen to it, the better it works. CD2 with the remixes is very successful.
Live
Global Spirit Tour with 32 concerts in 21 countries - followed by a tour of the USA.
