I've already moaned on at great length about Vince Clark and his 'contribution' to Depeche Mode so I shall refrain from doing so again. Or at least, I'll try. Ultra was Depeche Modes follow-up to what is widely considered to be DM's best album, certainly one of their most successful, 'Songs of Faith and Devotion'. However it would be four troubled years before Ultra emerged, by the time it arrived in 1997 Depeche Mode were down to a three piece and lead singer David Gahan had spent some time dead (Literally dead, drugs are not good things for you). Plus the band had been around a fair old chunk of time and are perhaps starting to get a bit ...  Read the complete review

There are many reasons why I’m so fond of Depeche Mode’s Ultra album. The first reason has to be that this is one that may have never happened if circumstances had changed slightly. Following their Songs of Faith and Devotion tour the band were on the verge of splitting. Lead singer Dave Gahan was heavily addicted to drugs and the others we’re on the verge of mental breakdowns. Shortly afterwards Alan Wilder announced that he was leaving and the end of the band was definitely on the cards. That was almost made certain when Dave Gahan was taken to hospital in America for a drug overdose. He almost died and actually was clinically dead for a couple of ...  Read the complete review

An incredible album, where Martin Gore's powerful songwriting and Dave Gahan's baritone found the musical depth from producer Tim Simenon that best reflected their talents. The album carries an electronic grunge thread throughout, and contains lyrics that marry high truth and beauty to primal, almost animalistic urges to great effect. The album kicks of with a Barrel of a Gun, where grungy riffs almost squelch out of the guitar to great effects to a rapid trip-hop beat. Another highlight is 'It's no good', an urging love song with a slightly disturbing undercurrent of obsession with an epic sweep to the music. 'Useless' is a great, if more conventional rock ...  Read the complete review

After DM engineer Alan Wilder left the band at the end of the 'SOFAD' tour, it seemed almost likely that the band would split up, due to frontman Dave Gahan's drug problems and songwriter Martin Gore's problems with seizures on that tour. However, even after their resident techno wizard who beefed the boys up into becoming a dark electro boy band after Vince Clarke's intital cock-up, left, the band hired the production of efforts of Tim (Bomb The Bass) Simenon and his team, and the resultant ensuing album is a mixed affair. First single and opener 'Barrel of a gun' shows that Martin Gore never lost the flare for writing a good tune, no ...  Read the complete review

If you have been dead for the past 20 years then you haven't noticed the impact of 70's music onto the 80's and 80's music on the 90's. Now we are in the naughty noughtys and who knows what is next. Depeche mode started out as a pop group fuelled with catchy tunes and new romantic style. Songs like "Master and servent" set the scene for 80's club youth and today are considered to be classics by goths and DJs alike. The follow up album to 1990's Violator had a hard act to follow as Violator is one of the most outstanding albums of the past two decades. The boys had plenty to inspire the new ...  Read the complete review