Delighter (Exciter - Depeche Mode)

Member Name: ChaCha

Product:	Exciter - Depeche Mode
Date:	11/05/01 (376 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Dynamic, varied songs and sounds

Disadvantages: Insipid instrumentals

Depeche Mode still suffer from something of a 'Smash Hits' centre-fold ephemeral electro-bop boy-band image. For about 20 people in the UK. Everyone else has enjoyed the extraordinary and unique musical repertoire and evolution of a band who bear comparison with both Spinal Tap and the Pet Shop Boys.

But I'm not here to give you a history lesson. I'm here to tell you what an absolute stonker of an album 'Exciter' is.

Martin Gore's song-writing probably reached perfection on the 'Violator' album, in particular that glorious transition from the final harmonised vocal samples of 'Waiting for the Night' into the pure electric pop of 'Enjoy the Silence'. That's where I found my musical heaven.

But this album is something else. And just as great as 'Violator'. It is a maturer, older album, following the trend of 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' and 'Ultra'. Wiser. There are many subtle musical, sonic and lyrical references to previous DM tunes. I will note a few in my review of each song below. Martin Gore's songs have a particularly relaxed feel to them.

Dave Gahan's voice is sweeter and more luscious than ever, very calm and beautiful.

As always, Fletch's role in the band is 'umami', the fifth taste, almost unnoticed, but essential to the deliciousness of the DM sound.

So, let's play.


Dream On
'Can you feel a little love?' I hope you've heard this recent single. I think it is the type of single which only DM could make. It is uncategorisable. Gentle acoustic guitar, a pessi-optimistic lyric. Musically, it has many echoes of DM's 'Personal Jesus' from 'Violator'. Sweet stuff.

Shine
Now, this one reminds me of DM's 'Death's Door', but with Gore's fruity sex-lyricism. He opens what sounds as if it will be a rather anodyn
e song with 'Put on your blindfold/And a dress that's tight'. With a strong powerful chorus, this is a good, but not great, DM song.

The Sweetest Condition
The slide guitar from 'Personal Jesus' is dusted off for this magic blues number.

When the Body Speaks
Ah. A slight hint of U2's 'With or Without You' on this gentle piece of musical perfection. This is a really glorious track, with the transcending spirit that is the reason we listen to music and love it so much. Listen.

The Dead of Night
'We are the Dead of Night/We're in the zombie room/Heavenly oversights' This song is probably about Dave's near-death heroin antics. But I'm afraid it's the classic DM 'bad album track', cf 'New Dress' ('Princess Di is wearing a new dress') etc. It may be remedied if it emerges that the opening sample is in fact the 'accelerator sound' from Atari's 'Pole Position', slowed down to 25% of normal speed.

Lovetheme
Disposable instrumental. Pure padding.

Freelove
This song is so simple and yet so intimate. A bit of a George Michael 'Fastlove' sentiment, with a dash of 'Strangelove'. 'If you're hiding from love/I can understand where you're coming from.' A slow, relaxed, slightly haunting and utterly gorgeous dirge. Some are saying it's Gore's masterpiece. One of them for sure.

Comatose
This reminds me of DM's 'Dangerous.' Another stately song, another strong track, one of two sung by Martin.

I Feel Loved
I can already see Dave spinning around sedately, his arms crooked around the mike-stand behind his back. This is great danceable disco, but with heavy DM touches (seems to be a distorted Stylophone somewhere in the mix). Next single surely.

Breathe
Not a cover of the Prodigy classic sadly, but a slow weepy sung b
y Martin. When I read the lyrics for this pre-release on www.depechemode.com I rather winced with embarrassment, ('I heard it from Peter who heard it from Paul who heard it from someone I don't know at all' etc.) But this sombre march ain't that bad at all. Good recovery material after spinning around to 'I Feel Loved' anyway.

Easy Tiger
See 'Lovetheme' above.

I Am You
This rather reminds me of PM Dawn for some reason. Really slow, almost dead slow. But very grand and majestic. Classic Mode.

Goodnight Lovers
This is a lovely closing track. Back to the Gospel sounds of 'Songs of Faith and Devotion' ('like a soul Sister and a soul Brother'). I see this as the counterpoint to 'Condemnation' on that album. 'When you're born a lover/You're born to suffer' Dave croons. But this is almost optimistic in the DM world - at least he's been born a lover.


Like all great albums, the whole is greater than the parts. Even the instrumentals I have so rudely dismissed as padding add to the album (they are both only a few seconds over two minutes). This is a wonderful album, and a great achievement by a band whose willingness to dare, experiment and evolve have returned time and again truly great results.

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