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If 1997’s ‘Ultra’ heralded the fall of her career, ‘Playing The Angel’, released eight years later, felt like a midlife crisis. Anton Corbijn built Depeche Mode a kind of UFO stage, and Martin Gore walked around like the character on the album cover: in a space bird costume. With the “Playing The Angel” singles, which were released here for the first time as maxis, DeMo once again evoked the good “Black Celebration” feeling of the heavyweights of 1986. “John The Revelator” is pounding wayfarer synth pop, and the Jacques Lu Cont contained here Remix of “A Pain That I’m Used To” so convinced the trio that they only performed this version live until the end – the only opportunity to see Depeche Mode on stage as a rock band with guitar, drums and bass.
Like a midlife crisis
Encouraged by his solo albums, Dave Gahan, at the age of 43, insisted on the inclusion of songs he had written himself: With “Suffer Well” he made his convincing debut. Only Gore’s “Precious”, whose interplay of guitar and rhythm is reminiscent of “Enjoy The Silence”, is arranged as a ballad – the first Depeche Mode ever released as a pre-single. The song is about the child of Gore and his ex. A gold piece of this collection is the limited single from “The Darkest Star”, which increases the yield to five album releases.
The set contains ten 12 inch maxi singles. A total of 35 tracks, mixed by Goldfrapp, M83 and Tiga, among others; Missing contributions from UNKLE (“John The Revelator”) and Monolake (“The Darkest Star”). Included are B-sides and outtakes, like “Free” and the spectacular “Newborn”, which once couldn’t supplant rather weak album material like “Lilian” (also included here as a remix); it is their best non-LP song since 1993’s “My Joy”. These B-sides are included on the tenth disc of the edition, entitled “Promotional Collection”. (Sony)
SIMILAR REVIEWS
Dagobert :: “Bonn Park”
The dandy banger master goes all out
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Futuristic pop music that stays away from the dance floor
Goldfrapp :: “Felt Mountain”
The electro-classic in the anniversary edition
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