Exciter - Depeche Mode

It was with baited breath that I awaited the new arrival from Depeche Mode. They'd certainly taken their time putting it together and from the horse’s mouth promised to be something special. Their career has deservedly spanned 20 years and their music has developed and expanded over that time so naturally I was keen to see what new area they had ventured into for this album. My first taster was from the official Depeche Mode website where they were releasing snippets to wet your appetite. To say I was disappointed was an understatement but it got a second chance when good old dearly departed Napster provided me with an opportunity to download it a ...  Read the complete review

20 years ago, around the time of "Just Can't Get Enought", it would've seemed unthinkable that in 2001 we'd be talking about the Mode in terms of heroin addiction, nervous breakdowns and overdoses, but that's the context in which this album has generally been reviewed. 1997's "Ultra", their first post-excess comedown album, was a patchy, frustrating affair, not helped by a knackered-sounding Gahan and the departure of Alan Wilder, the only classically-trained musician in the band and something of an unsung hero when it comes to the band's grasp of melody. It looked like a halfhearted farewell note from a band who were ...  Read the complete review

It's been approxiamately 20yrs since the cheeky Depeche Mode teenagers from Basildon graced us with their debut album which featured the memorable, but laughable hit 'Just Can't Get Enough', and though the lads have long since turned from synth-pop boyband prototypes to perve-pop electro rockers their inital entry still eludes them, as it still popularity wise surfices their after-works, atleast in the local territories. It's unfortunate then that many people have missed out on many DM gems. It's also been 5yrs since DM's last album 'Ultra', which seemed to have been made out of the last scraps of gasping life within the band. ...  Read the complete review

Amazingly I’ve somehow been beaten to getting the first review of Depeche Mode’s new album ‘Exciter’ on Dooyoo. Quite how I’m not sure as it’s only been released today (14th May) but far be it from me to suggest that I’m writing the first review with the CD actually in my possession. Yes, I’m a devoted DM fan and like many others I’ve been spending the last month or two getting hold of those short album clips which were posted on the official DM site (www.depechemode.com). Finally the day has arrived and the new album is with us following the April release of the first single ‘Dream On’ – also ...  Read the complete review

Depeche Mode are one of those rare groups which, despite past excesses, quarrels, breakups and hearbreaks, continue to be TRUE innovators in their field. 'Exciter', the groups' 12th record, is also probably one of the best in their 20 year career. It sees vocalist Dave Gahan blossom into an honest-to-gawd, downright excellent SINGER; it is the fruition of the promise which Gore has shown throughout the years in his underrated song repetoire. This album sees the band at their most relaxed and experimental; utilizing elements of soul, modern-day electronica, hippy60s musick and possibly even lounge. And while this may seem and sound strange to most( not to ...  Read the complete review