Tinkle tinkle little stars! (Exciter - Depeche Mode)

Member Name: millwall23

Product:	Exciter - Depeche Mode
Date:	01/07/01 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy listening, Unoffensive

Disadvantages: Uneventful, Often ordinary

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 whole month early.

If this had been any other group other than DM I would have deleted the songs and never given them a second chance. However as with every fan forgiveness comes easily and so I bought the album to give them a third chance in the hope that I'd missed something vital. That was a decision that over time I would be glad I'd made.

Far from producing a new revolutionary sound, which is the normal way of DM, they have reverted back to their tinkle tinkle ditties from the 80's. But although the album lacks the passion and experimentation that produced the wonderful "Songs of Faith and Devotion" and "Violator" it still has it's own subtle charm.

Personally I am certainly feeling the departure of Alan Wilder on this album even more than the last. Depeche Mode have and always will be the king of the keyboard but during the last few albums they managed to combine the modern keyboard with both classical and other modern instruments but to an extent that is sorely missing from this newest collection. They have still used the strings, drums and guitars but you need to really listen and I think the result has been to the detriment of the group and the album.

Another area that they have let themselves down is the lyrics. Al
l the songs are (as usual) written by Martin Gore but what's surprised me is his subject matter. This is another area they have reverted back to the 80's, gone are the dark meaningful lyrics and in their place are simple obvious little love songs. There are a couple of gems in there indicating the potential that could have been but mostly they are sadly lacking any kind of real emotion.

It seems the band are on a crusade to prove how far behind them their problems of old are. Although I think that’s great for them I think they’ve lost the edge that often comes with those problems. Since “Black Celebration” their music has been dark and passionate and I think to a higher extent they could do with sticking to what they know (although I’m extremely pleased to see Gahan looking so well). This new happy go lucky lovey dovey DM isn’t all bad though and I’m sure to a great number of people it will probably be a refreshing change. If like me you were expecting that edge and passion that made their music so unique you’d be disappointed but fear not after a few listens the album becomes more and more palatable.

Of the 13 songs recorded I think there are perhaps 4 that I would actually recommend and a fifth just for fun!

The first is a slow but enjoyable little number – “Shine”. It’s got a moody undertone and is one of the only songs where the baseline is still alive. Lets face it Gahan is not one of this Century’s leading vocalists but this is probably one of his better-sung slow songs.

Probably the only song to bear any resemblance to the Songs of Faith album is “The Dead of Night”. It almost seems out of place on this album and bears just a small resemblance to “I Feel You”, it’s dark, and interesting and seems to be the only song with any kind of experimental sounds on it. It’s a bit corny but then so are
some of the best Depeche Mode songs of old and at the very least it breaks up an album that would otherwise be far too sickly.

“Freelove” is more melodic and peaceful than some of the other songs but as with my prior choices it’s also slightly darker and moody than others. A song you could definitely just lay back and listen to the singing blends with the music making it much smoother. Gores acoustic guitar playing tones it down and even though it’s the very definition of corny I just can’t get enough of it!

One song with positively awful lyrics is “Breathe”. What on earth Gore was thinking when he wrote this I have no idea but at least it’s lighthearted and it makes me laugh. I just didn’t have the heart to write this one off, a blues type number it’s impossible to be offended and it’s good to know the band still has a sense of humour!

And lastly “I Am You” which is probably my favorite on the album. There is virtually nothing to this song, it’s as unimpressive as you can get musically but perhaps that is why it works, simplicity is often the best course. I think it’s best described as a watered down version of “Home” and is probably the only one in which they’ve incorporated the good old fashioned strings which I miss. Definitely one to chill to and probably the only real quality song on the album, shame they couldn’t achieve this with the rest.

If I had to sum up this album I would say it’s obvious, simple and somewhat tacky but completely inoffensive. It’s not what I was expecting at all but I’ve warmed to it over the last month and although I wouldn’t personally recommend it I think its European/American success is not completely undeserved. Easy to listen to but lacks any real excitement – definitely NOT well named.

Give it a go – you could buy far worse!

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